LATE 19TH CENTURY

Details

A GOLD-GROUND CEREMONIAL ARMOUR WITH HELMET
LATE 19TH CENTURY
The uniform comprises a waist-length jacket ending in hoof-shaped sleeves with epaulettes to the shoulders and a long apron. All decorated with circular brass studs on a woven Y-shaped gold brocade ground and trimmed with black velvet. The matching helmet is accompanied by a quiver, bow case and an arrow.

Provenance

Private UK Collection, acquired prior to 2000.

Exhibited

This quiver and bow case were exhibited in Chinese Arms and Armour: Arms and Armour from the Collection of Dr. Antony Wong and the British Museum, British Museum, London, 15 December 1994-15 February 1995.

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Lot Essay

The gold brocade ground of this uniform suggests this suit would have been made for a member of the Imperial Guard of the Forbidden City. They were made in the Imperial workshops in Hangzhou and when not worn were stored at the Western Gate of the Forbidden City. Compare to a similar gold-ground armour with dragon-roundels dated to the same period as the present lot, sold at Christie's New York, 14 September 2017, lot 939.

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