Margaret Osgood (Boston, 1847 - 1941)
Lettercase, about 1900
Fragments of a Mandarin coat, silk tapestry with gilt yarn, black dye or pigment, 34.3 x 26 cm (13 1/2 x 10 1/4 in.)
Japanese, square, tapestry weave silk lettercase with touches of gilt yarn and black dye or pigment. The conformation of the pattern suggests that this is a fragment from the lower border of a ceremonial court robe, turned into a lettercase. On one side, it features white and blue stylized waves and clouds on a blue background. Above the clouds, you can see the talons and belly of a dragon along the edge of the letter case. The other side of the lettercase features a repeating pattern of blue, white, gray, and yellow stripes. The two sides are held together by a strip of green silk.
Blue Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.