Scroll of satin embroidered in coloured silks, China, 1894 This is a scroll from a set of four which appears to have a connection with the Dowager Empress Cixi (1835–1908) of China. Like the other three scrolls, it has her seal at the centre top. The embroidery shows a red-crested crane and peony flowers, associated with a long life and royalty respectively. All four scrolls are likely to have been embroidered from paintings made by the empress herself and embroidered by court artisans for her all-important 60th birthday. The scrolls might have been distributed as gifts as part of the lavish birthday celebrations. Scroll of buff coloured satin embroidered with coloured silks in long and short, satin and stem stitches. It depicts a crane perched on one leg on a tree stump with flowering peonies below. The scroll is mounted on white figured silk paper as a hanging scroll.