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Lot Essay
Large tapestries and hangings of this type were used to decorate throne rooms of palaces throughout the Forbidden City. These panels display the opulence of Qing palace interiors through their sumptuous dragon design which is expertly captured in vibrant threads to heighten their grandeur and echoes contemporary imperial robes. Symbolic of the emperor, this motif was particularly popular at the Qing court. Furthermore, the number nine represents celestial power and thus the number of the emperor.
Such large silk panels are unusual although two similar examples, also on a yellow ground, in the Mactaggart Art Collection, University of Alberta Museums, Edmonton, were sold at Sotheby's New York 7 May 1981, lot 158, and 25 February 1983, lot 126. Compare also a smaller example with nine-dragons sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th November 2007, lot 1825 and a pair of apricot-ground brocaded 'nine dragon' silk panels of a smaller size sold at Sotheby's, London, 8 November 2017, lot 10.
Such large silk panels are unusual although two similar examples, also on a yellow ground, in the Mactaggart Art Collection, University of Alberta Museums, Edmonton, were sold at Sotheby's New York 7 May 1981, lot 158, and 25 February 1983, lot 126. Compare also a smaller example with nine-dragons sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th November 2007, lot 1825 and a pair of apricot-ground brocaded 'nine dragon' silk panels of a smaller size sold at Sotheby's, London, 8 November 2017, lot 10.