GUANGXU PERIOD (1875-1908)

It is unusual to find a twelve-symbol robe with apricot-ground, the heir apparent color, and it is possible that this robe was made for a high-ranking imperial consort. A man's apricot-ground twelve-symbol imperial robe sold at Christie's New York, 26 March 2003, lot 69; and another sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2012, lot 2271.
For a discussion of the significance of each of the twelve imperial symbols, see G. Dickinson and L. Wrigglesworth, Imperial Wardrobe, London, 1990, pp. 76-92.