Lot Essay
Compare a similar embroidered surcoat illustrated by John E. Vollmer, Decoding Dragons: Status Garments in Ch'ing Dynasty China, University of Oregon Museum of Art, 1983, p. 49, pl. 12
Details
A BLACK-GROUND EMBROIDERED SILK IMPERIAL CONSORT'S SURCOAT, PU FU
LATE 19TH CENTURY
Finely worked on the front and back in multi-colored satin stitch and couched gold thread with eight roundels, each enclosing a contorted five-clawed dragon clutching a flaming pearl below a shou character amidst dense clouds, all above the terrestrial diagram and lishui stripe at the hem, with similar, smaller roundels and border at the sleeves
56in. (142.3cm.) long
LATE 19TH CENTURY
Finely worked on the front and back in multi-colored satin stitch and couched gold thread with eight roundels, each enclosing a contorted five-clawed dragon clutching a flaming pearl below a shou character amidst dense clouds, all above the terrestrial diagram and lishui stripe at the hem, with similar, smaller roundels and border at the sleeves
56in. (142.3cm.) long