A Chinese Imperial consort's dragon robe, (ch'i-fu) of yellow silk, embroidered in coloured silks and gilt threads with nine dragons chasing flaming pearls amongst shou symbols, bats and cloud scrolls, also worked with five of the twelve Imperial symbols of authority, being the axe, the fu, the sun, the moon and two constellation symbols, over a sea-wave border, the horse shoe cuffs with dragons, lined with blue silk, the embroidery mid 19th centurySee colour illustration

Details

A Chinese Imperial consort's dragon robe, (ch'i-fu) of yellow silk, embroidered in coloured silks and gilt threads with nine dragons chasing flaming pearls amongst shou symbols, bats and cloud scrolls, also worked with five of the twelve Imperial symbols of authority, being the axe, the fu, the sun, the moon and two constellation symbols, over a sea-wave border, the horse shoe cuffs with dragons, lined with blue silk, the embroidery mid 19th centurySee colour illustration

Provenance

The collection of Dame Joan Evans DBE.

Lot Essay

This robe lacks the second dragon band on the sleeves that generally characterises ladies' dragon robes. This and the fact that the embroidery on the neck borders and cuffs does not match implies that the robe was made up at a date later to the embroidery.

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