Qing dynasty

Wave-and-Mountain Border at the Hem (detail)

清代海水江崖纹下摆（局部）

The border at the hem is built from three elements: a band of vertical stripes representing standing water, curling waves above it, and rocks rising from the water. Their proportions shift over time, the vertical band growing noticeably taller in the later Qing. Earlier waves are generally worked in stem stitch with gaps left between the rows to register depth; later ones use satin stitch, replacing the reserved gaps with graded colour.