China's Empresses at the Peabody-Essex Museum: fabrics

What a splendid exhibit!  I can truly say, I have enjoyed the Peabody-Essex's exhibit "Empresses of China's Forbidden City" as much as I have enjoyed any Asian exhibit, anywhere.
It is such a varied and wonderful exhibit that I have to do three separate blogs in order to do it justice: Fabrics, Paintings, and Objects.

The incredible ceremonial robes, hairpins, etc. that the show curated would have been an exhibit that could have stood alone.
Here is the first blog: Fabrics.

The Peabody-Essex

Roof over Atrium

Barbara, Susan, Bill

Festive Robe with Eight Dragon-Phoenix Roundels and 

Twelve Imperial Symbols

Guangxu period, 1875-1908

Festive Headdress with Phoenixes and Peonies

probably last half of 19th. Century

Court Vest with Dragons and Clouds

Yongzheng Period, 1723-35

detail of above

Court Hat with Phoenixes

18th. or 19th. cent

detail of above

Six-panel wall hanging with phoenixes and birds in landscape,

Daoist Immortals, and the character for longevity
Quanlong period, 1736-1795

detail of above

I had to capture some of these remarkable birds

detail

detail

detail

detail

detail

Theatrical robe with peaches butterflies, bats and clouds

Quanlong period, 1736-1795

Festive robe with eight roundels of baskets with lotuses

Yongzheng Period, 1723-35

detail of above

detail of above

Hair ornaments

Hair ornament with basket of lotuses

Lobed fan with cranes, peaches and rocks

Qianlong period, 1736-1795

Boots with phoenixes, peonies and lotuses

Kangxi period, 1662-1722

Empress Cixi, the last empress of China

Robe with phoenixes, peonies and the character for longevity

Guangxu period, 1875-1908

The Butterfly Bush

The Butterfly Bush right next to the rail on our deck where we have been eating dinner, a rare occasion this Summer because of the heat and rain, has been attracting the Ruby-throat, and a wonderful Hummingbird Moth.
A few pictures.  I wish the male Ruby-throat would put in an appearance.

Midsummer Night's Dream

Friends Anne and Bill Gardner performed in an out-door staging of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and it was a delight.  Some lines were lost out doors, but the small cast playing multiple roles was very  professional, with both Bill and Anne showing their chops. Puck was really outstanding as well. Here are a few pictures. Congratulations, cast!  Broken legs, all around.

New Flash Experiments

Some more trips to the woods, trying out the flash (all these photos are with the Canon 7d II, the flash attachment, and a 70-300 mm F4 L lens.

The, as always beautiful, Strier Conservancy

Water Strider

The flash brings out such color.

I love this.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female) in the Soulia's backyard