19TH CENTURY

Details

A TWELVE-SYMBOL IMPERIAL YELLOW ROBE, JIFU
19TH CENTURY
The robe is delicately embroidered with a fretwork lattice of gilt threads, with brightly coloured silk seawave and auspicious symbols including the twelve Imperial symbols. The robe has dark blue cuffs and facings, with buttons and binding.
54¼ in. (138 cm.) long

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

Brought to you by

Cherrei Yuan Tian

ytian@christies.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7389 2571

Lot Essay

Robes embroidered with the twelve Imperial symbols are very rare, as they were exclusively reserved for the emperor. The Huangchao liqi tushi, 'Illustrated Precedents for the Ritual Paraphernalia of the Imperial Court', which was enforced in 1766, restricted the use of the Twelve Symbols to the emperor. The symbols imply the notion of Imperial Authority, signifying the Ruler of the Universe. They include the sun, the moon, the axe, the shou character, the millet, the firey weed, dragons and phoenix, green weed, libation cups and the two constellations representing heaven and earth.

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