Details
A lady's kossu court vest woven with six profile long dragons, the back with a front facing dragon, bound in brocade, circa 1800
See Colour Plate
See Colour Plate
Provenance
Charles Holme, founder of The Studio Magazine.
This and the following lot were collected by Charles Holme during extensive travels throughout Asia and Europe. He was a friend and associate of Arthur Liberty and was a regular exhibitor at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
This and the following lot were collected by Charles Holme during extensive travels throughout Asia and Europe. He was a friend and associate of Arthur Liberty and was a regular exhibitor at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Further details
This type of court vest could be worn by all ranks of women at court over a chao pao robe. The motifs of this vest suggest a high ranking lady, probably a member of the Imperial household. The regulations state that four profile dragons on front and back were worn by wives of first and second rank princes. This example has four profile dragons on the front with two on the rear beneath a front facing dragon. For a table summarising the regulations, see Linda Wrigglesworth, The Imperial Wardrobe, page 179, table 19.