Who was the Chinese female artisan who dazzled Empress Dowager Cixi and Italy’s queen?

Suzhou embroidery is one of China’s most celebrated traditional crafts. It is renowned for its delicate techniques and is often referred to as the textile equivalent of Chinese ink paintings. Originating more than 2,000 years ago in Suzhou, in China’s Jiangsu province, the art form features silk threads thinner than human hair woven into images. These depict classical gardens, shanshui (mountain and river) landscapes, flowers, lotuses and birds to reflect Jiangsu’s rich artistic heritage. In the...