Lot 15
15
An Imperial Consort's formal court robe (chi'fu) of turquoise satin, embroidered in silks and couched gilt thread with nine gilt dragons amidst scrolling clouds, red Shou character symbols and bats above a sea-wave border, trimmed with borders and wide horse shoe cuffs of black satin worked with similar motifs, padded for winter wear and lined with salmon pink silk damask, mid 19th century, the lower sleeves, cuffs and borders replaced in the late 19th century (some loose threads and wear to lining)
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus bu… Read more
An Imperial Consort's formal court robe (chi'fu) of turquoise satin, embroidered in silks and couched gilt thread with nine gilt dragons amidst scrolling clouds, red Shou character symbols and bats above a sea-wave border, trimmed with borders and wide horse shoe cuffs of black satin worked with similar motifs, padded for winter wear and lined with salmon pink silk damask, mid 19th century, the lower sleeves, cuffs and borders replaced in the late 19th century (some loose threads and wear to lining)

Details
An Imperial Consort's formal court robe (chi'fu) of turquoise satin, embroidered in silks and couched gilt thread with nine gilt dragons amidst scrolling clouds, red Shou character symbols and bats above a sea-wave border, trimmed with borders and wide horse shoe cuffs of black satin worked with similar motifs, padded for winter wear and lined with salmon pink silk damask, mid 19th century, the lower sleeves, cuffs and borders replaced in the late 19th century (some loose threads and wear to lining)
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Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

The alterations are in keeping with the late 19th century fashion for this style of exaggerated horse shoe cuffs set by the Dowager Empress Cixi whose tastes held sway over fashions of the era
The turquoise colour of this robe is associated with imperial consorts or concubines

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