Mandarin butterfly series
- Audio guide stop: 617
- Gallery: Room 33
- Maker: Caroline Cheng
- Made in: Jingdezhen
- Date: 2012
- Object type: sculpture
- Materials: porcelain; linen
- Museum number: 2013,3005.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is "Peacock," a 2012 sculpture from Caroline Cheng's Mandarin Butterfly Series. Before you is a linen robe covered in thousands of handmade porcelain butterflies in shades of peacock blue. Each butterfly is sewn by hand, adding dimension and movement to the piece. It is a striking blend of soft fabric and delicate ceramic.
Caroline Cheng, a British-born artist with a strong connection to Hong Kong and China, created this work in Jingdezhen—an important center for ceramic craftsmanship. The butterflies were made by local artisans following Cheng's design. This series explores themes of mass production and individuality, using traditional techniques in a modern context.
Cheng’s work often carries subtle political messages through vibrant, imaginative imagery. "Peacock" demonstrates her talent for merging theatrical presentation with intricate detail, making each piece both visually compelling and conceptually rich.
See it in person
Mandarin butterfly series is on display in Room 33 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 617, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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