Violet Peonies — Vintage Chinese Floral Cotton
Lavender peonies, gentle green leaves and small lilac ornaments bloom against coral red, framed by deep blue lattice. One substantial, soft reclaimed cotton piece, approx. 100 × 43 cm.
One complete vintage piece — uncut
Width: approx. 43 cm · Recorded total: approx. 100 cm
- Quantity 1
- Entire piece: 100 × 43 cm / 39.4 × 16.9 inches
Only one complete 100 cm section is offered. The owner has retained a separate section for a personal collection. Check Etsy for current availability and pricing.
- Object ID
- TA-JN-0046
- Origin
- Jiangnan · Jiangnan, Nantong area, China (owner attribution)
- Period
- Estimated early People’s Republic period
- Dating confidence
- estimated
- Material
- Substantial, thick and soft traditional hand-spun, handwoven cotton (owner attribution)
- Dimensions
- One complete piece, approx. 100 × 43 cm / 39.4 × 16.9 inches
- Technique
- Hand-spun cotton ground (owner attribution) · Multicolour direct hand printing (hand-block attribution)
- Pattern
- Violet peonies in a diamond lattice · Small circular floral ornaments
- Colours
- Lavender violet · Coral red · Deep blue and gentle green
- Washed
- Yes
Object condition
Reclaimed from an old household textile, carefully washed and ironed. Thick, soft cotton with gently aged colours, traditional print character and possible natural printing or yarn irregularities. The owner has retained a separate part of the original fabric; only the remaining 100 cm section is offered here. Examine all original photographs. Background textiles are not included.
Identification notes
Soft violet peonies bloom against a coral-red ground, framed by deep blue diamond lattice lines, with gentle green leaves and small lilac floral ornaments. The rich yet delicate palette is described by the owner as an uncommon lavender combination among the old printed fabrics they have collected.
The owner has kept part of the original fabric for a personal collection. The remaining 100 cm section is the single piece offered here; the retained section is not included.
Attributed to the Nantong area of Jiangnan, China, and estimated to date from the early People’s Republic period. The source describes hand-spun, traditionally handwoven cotton with multicolour printing attributed to woodblock printing. Exact maker, date, original tools and colourants have not been independently verified.
Blooming peonies repeat within a diamond lattice, with small circular floral ornaments at intersections. Layered colour and slightly irregular outlines retain the character of an old direct-printed textile. This record does not classify the cloth as indigo paste-resist printing.
In the supplied interpretation, peonies signify prosperity, beauty and good fortune. Purple evokes elegance and the auspicious expression Zi Qi Dong Lai (紫气东来), the arrival of good fortune; diamond lattice suggests harmony, connection and continuity; circular flowers evoke unity and togetherness. These associations are cultural readings rather than documented original maker intent.
Sold as one complete piece, approximately 43 cm / 16.9 inches wide and 100 cm / 39.4 inches long. Quantity 1 purchases the whole remaining piece pictured. Only one is offered, and an identical replacement cannot be promised.
Reclaimed from an old household textile, carefully washed and ironed. Substantial, thick and soft hand-spun cotton retains gently aged colours and possible natural print or yarn irregularities. Please examine all original photographs.
Suitable for tea mats, small table textiles, handmade clothing, bags, pouches, slow stitching, patchwork, quilting, textile collage, framed folk-art panels and decorative sewing.
Violet peonies softly glow, / Where crimson gardens used to grow. / Old threads hold wishes, warm and bright, / Of fortune blooming into light.
From Tubu Atlas, with love: some vintage textiles are too beautiful to part with entirely. The owner hopes this remaining section finds someone who appreciates its unusual colours, gentle vintage charm and the stories carried by old Chinese cotton.
Violet blossoms and arriving blessings
The supplied cultural reading links peonies with prosperity, beauty and good fortune, and their violet colour with elegance and Zi Qi Dong Lai 紫气东来. Lattice suggests connection and continuity; circular floral ornaments evoke unity and togetherness.
