This expansive embroidered runner, originating from China during the late 19th century (1875–1900), is an exceptional example of textile work tailored for the late Victorian export market. Measuring 17 inches by 50 inches (43 cm x 127 cm), the runner is composed of five distinct sections expertly stitched together to create a continuous decorative field.
The composition is rendered on a medium-dark green silk base, featuring a variety of meticulously detailed bird and flower motifs. The artisan utilized satin-stitch embroidery for smooth, lustrous floral petals and extensive couching embroidery—where threads are laid across the surface and fastened with smaller stitches—to add structural depth and metallic shimmer to the avian forms. Due to the incredible density of the needlework, the base fabric exhibits characteristic dimpling and waviness, a testament to the thousands of hand-stiches tensioning the silk. This piece remains in very good condition.