Mogao Cave 17: Embroidery of Standing Buddha

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This embroidered fragment of a standing Buddha was excavated from Mogao Cave 17 in Dunhuang.
The fragment is 10.9 cm high and 6.2 cm wide. A range of colored threads have been used, including blue, green, brown, and yellow, with gold thread for highlighting. However, most of the gold has disappeared.
The Buddha has a usnisa and a round face, and wears a robe made from panels of cloth stitched together. He holds an alms bowl in his right hand and his left hand holds the corner of his robe. There is a double-layer nimbus and flaming mandorla behind the Buddha.
Split stitch technique was used on dark brown silk. There is evidence that the underlay consisted of an animal substance, which is one of the earliest examples of such usage.