A Chinese Silk Embroidery and Hanging Scroll with Butterflies

Includes a silk embroidered panel and a painting, the first, dated 1922, a horizontal silk embroidery on grapevine patterned silk backing with hand sewn silk woven tassels at bottom with silver colored beads, central panel with a myriad of whimsical birds flying amidst vines of ripe grapes and colorful flowers, dedication reads it was made for a pastor as a gift from the congregation (37 x 102 in.)(fading and toning to top grapevine silk fabric; main silk panel with scattered foxing and spots of discoloration; some areas of wormholes to sides and lower edges; reverse silk backing with scattered stains, some tears to edges, some loss of beads to lower tassels), and a hanging scroll painting, ink and colors on paper, of butterflies amidst colorful flora and fauna (59 x 14 3/8 in.)(scattered foxing to paper; tears and holes to upper portion of mount)

From the Historic Collection of Limestone University, Gaffney, South Carolina
Limestone College, now Limestone University, was founded in 1845 in Gaffney, South Carolina, by English-born Baptist minister Dr. Thomas Curtis and his son William. Originally established as the Limestone Springs Female High School, it was among the first women’s colleges in the nation and the very first in the state. The institution found its early roots in a former resort hotel near healing springs, later struggling due to the Civil War and Reconstruction. It revived in 1881 as the Cooper‑Limestone Institute, thanks to benefaction from industrialist Peter Cooper, and adopted the name Limestone College.

The translation for the embroidery is as follows:
Main Characters: "Grapes / Orchard / Labor / Workers" (right to left)
(Matthew Chapter 20)

Lower register: We have benefited so much from Pastor Anderson's coming to China to spread the good news for over 10 years. Now that he is traveling back to the United States, we want to present this gift to him. Cantonese Baptist Association. March 5th, 1992.

A special thank you to Pei Fen Lieu for her time in providing the translation.