A PALE LILAC-GROUND KESI INFORMAL ROBE

PROPERTY OF AN EAST COAST INSTITUTION

Details

A PALE LILAC-GROUND KESI INFORMAL ROBE
1900-1910

Woven in muted tones of yellow, green, blue and brown with an overall pattern of leafy chrysanthemum clusters, reserved on a mauve ground, within a brocade inner border and a pale teal-green border with further chrysanthemums (some wear)
55in. (139.6cm.) long

Lot Essay

The design and color palette are typical of the Empress Dowager Cixi's informal court style. For embroidered robes decorated with similar chrysanthemum clusters, reputed to be from the wardrobe of the Empress Dowager, see Helen E. Fernald, Chinese Court Costumes, Royal Ontario Museum of Archaeology, Toronto, 1946, pls. XXV and XXX