In their discussion of winter dragon robes, Gary Dickinson and Linda Wrigglesworth, Imperial Wardrobe, Hong Kong, 1990, p. 65, state that the use of fur as lining was probably introduced by the Manchu. In winter, the Chinese wore added layers of clothes padded with silk or cotton. They also note that it is very unusual to find robes completely lined in expensive fur, more often the garment was lined with fleece, and mink was used to line the colar and cuffs.

The present lot is lined in fleece with the front panel of the garment lined in an exotic spotted fur similar to the one illustrated in op. cit, 1990, pl. 50 and 51.