CHINESE EMBROIDERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHINESE EMBROIDERY.

Practically ail the cxquK'tc silk cm 'ibroideries of China and Japan are done by men wh>, sit at home pitiently plying the needle hour after hour, day after day. week after week, and month after month, evolving from their brains original designs in gorgeous silken birds, flowers, and their favourite, aweinspiring dragon. Their wives and often their children are engaged outside in such laborious work as gardening, carrying bricks and mortar, or other heavy loads slung on bamboo pohs, road making and mending, and generally performing such ta-sks as fall to the lot of navvies in Britain.

Where work of this nature i.-. carried or; in ganc'-. men and women collies an mixed together. Where ships are lo u great extent coaled by manual laliour, .-.-; at most of the China coast port-.. at Hongkong, and even at Singapore. Chinese, women -,hnre with men this terribly strenuous work, often under a broiling tropi oil sun. I.nl a Chinaman w'no happens to lw bom in an embroiderer's family works on embroidery, and nothing < isc from the time he- begin?, to do anything at all until he dies, or becomes ;i grandfather—the only "retiring"' age recognised in China. j As a grandfather ho Rrows a scanty beard and is expected to look after the small children oi the household. When not Reengaged, he may be lound sitting outside j on tlip sunny side of the house. ]»a.ssinjr the timi away with his though Is and fancies.