Wedding Altar Frontal with Design of Peony and Lotus Scrolls, Symbols for Double Happiness, and Meandering Swastika Fret Border

This wedding altar frontal is made from red and green velvet pile on a ribbed ground. The red has faded to tawny brown where it was exposed to light before entering the Saint Louis Art Museum’s collection. The main lower panel’s central medallion contains a large peony, while smaller prunus, magnolia, and peony sprays decorate the remainder of the field. The upper flap is emblazoned with lotus blossoms and three doubled Chinese characters, which read as shuang xi (“double happiness”). The borders at the lower and flanking edges feature a meandering swastika fret pattern. The swastika symbol is read in Chinese as wan, meaning “myriad” or “10,000.” It joins the shuang xi characters in wishing a lifetime of happiness for the bride and groom.