Textile with Grapes

Unknown artist

Ming–Qing dynasty, 17th century

Silk simple gauze with gold thread

Tokyo National Museum

A textile fragment features a repeating pattern of circular motifs containing clusters of leaves and berries, rendered in gold thread on a light-colored gauze. Grapes woven in gold thread adorn this delicate gauze textile. Bearing numerous fruit on a single vine, grapes are an auspicious symbol of plentiful offspring. Origin: China