chinese alter FRONTAL Origin & Date: China, Circa 1900 (?) Size: 41 inches x 37 inches. Condition: fragile, fugitive threads and silk panels. Red silk ground with multicolor silk floss embroidery and gold thread couched work; figures are constructed with silk appliques. Five figures in the main panel and four figures in the top panel. In the main panel: a seated man, wearing a blue silk summer dragon robe, is watching a theatrical performance of the remaining four figures; mountains, animals, flowers and trees are also depicted. Horse or goat hair (or other animal hair) is used for beard and dyed deep red for the other figures; silver disks attached all around outer border.