An imperial lady's four-symbol long gua (altered) of midnight blue silk kesi, woven with eight dragon roundels, each with a gilt dragon surrounded by Shou characters and bats against a gilt key-fret ground, with the Imperial symbols of the Moon, the Sun, the Constellation and the Rock woven to the upper four roundels, the hem and cuffs with a sea-wave border, second half of the 19th century, made up later from an uncut robe (later lining, inner flap altered)

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An imperial lady's four-symbol long gua (altered) of midnight blue silk kesi, woven with eight dragon roundels, each with a gilt dragon surrounded by Shou characters and bats against a gilt key-fret ground, with the Imperial symbols of the Moon, the Sun, the Constellation and the Rock woven to the upper four roundels, the hem and cuffs with a sea-wave border, second half of the 19th century, made up later from an uncut robe (later lining, inner flap altered)
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Lot Essay

The silk kesi of this robe was woven for the first type of long gua which could be worn by the Empress Dowager and the Empress. The crown princess and high ranking Imperial consorts of the first three degrees were also entitled to wear this type. Qing Empresses adopted the use of some of the Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority on their long gua during the 19th century.
This example has been incorrectly tailored as the long gua should have a central opening rather than fastening at the side. This and the alterations to the inner flap suggest that it has been made up from an uncut robe some time in the 20th century

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