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Styles

Chinese silk embroidery has developed into four main separate styles. This is only to be considered as a generalization as there are many styles that are used such as the knotted style of stitching that silkporcelain feature with the embroidered pottery art.

* Yue embroidery
* Xiang embroidery
* Shu embroidery
* Su embroidery

Yue Embroidery

Yue embroidery is a style representative of Southern China, it is also known as Canton embroidery. The style is characterized by the use of a variety of stitches and are predominantly brightly colored, rich in content and very decorative. The style is very often found in association with tourist products because of its simplicity and colorful appearance.
Silk embroidered Landscape
Xiang Embroidery

Xiang embroidery originates from Humun Province during the time of the Warring States Period ( 475 - 221 BC ). Many of the techniques used are derived from Su and Yue embroidery. It is a style that uses a wide range of stitching and is represented today as the main source of works produced for the tourist and commercial market. It is a style that is relatively quick to produce and tends to lack the luster of the other styles. The stitching employed in Xiang embroidery is sometimes described as cross - stitching.
Shu Embroidery

Shu embroidery from Chengdu Province uses soft satin colors and is often found as decorative art on items such as cushions, handkerchiefs and pillowcases; it is characterized by fine, small and delicate stitching techniques.
Su Embroidery

Su embroidery dates back to the early beginnings of embroidery in China more than 3,500 years ago. Su is represented by many different techniques. Some works are delicate, others rich in design while others may be simplistic. A great variety of stitching is used and several methods may be used in the one piece.

With Su embroidery the threads are often separated into 48 strands, each strand almost invisible to the naked eye. This technique was expanded and elaborated upon during the Ming dynasty. Su, is the most intricate of all the different styles and is often produced as "double - sided" embroidery , which are produced on a single piece of silk fabric and are identical from both the face and the reverse sides. Such works are often displayed in a free standing frame.