Page 159 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

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A RARE IMPERIAL NOBLEWOMAN’S TURQUOISE-GROUND Delicately woven with nine blue five-clawed dragons pursuing the
GAUZE SILK ‘DRAGON’ ROBE, JIFU flaming pearls of wisdom, the present robe is a rare example of festive
19th century garments worn by the highest-ranking female members of the Qing
Meticulously worked on the front and back in satin stitch with nine blue society. Robes tailored in turquoise silk are extremely rare and appear
writhing, five-clawed dragons pursuing flaming pearls amidst dense to have been reserved for the use of Imperial consorts during the Qing
trailing scrolls of ruyi clouds interspersed with bats and the Auspicious dynasty; see L.Wrigglesworth, The Imperial Robe, Berkeley, 1990,
Emblems, all above the terrestrial diagram and lishui stripe at the hem, p.95. Robes decorated with designs drawn from the repertoire of
picked out in vibrant shades of blue, yellow, purple, red and coral, Court symbols, such as the dragons, reinforced the privilege of an
reserved on a brilliant sea-green ground, the matching dark-blue- educated and sophisticated elite focused on the power of textiles to
ground collar and cuffs worked with further dragons amidst further convey social status to the viewers. The quintessential symbols of
Imperial power, five-clawed dragons embodied royalty and dominion
bats, clouds and waves. and expressed the visual metaphor of the good ruler who behaved
133.5cm (52 1/2in) long. wisely for the well being of his subjects.

£8,000 - 10,000 Compare with a related turquoise ground robe for an Imperial consort,
CNY63,000 - 79,000 19th century, illustrated by L.Wrigglesworth, Imperial Wardrobe,
Berkeley, 1990, p.96, pl.76. See also a related turquoise-ground
十九世紀 綠松石地納紗繡龍紋吉服袍 ‘dragon’ robe, 19th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York, acc.no.30.75.99.

Provenance: an English private collection A related turquoise-ground gauze silk ‘dragon’ robe, Daoguang, was
sold at Bonhams London, 12 May 2022.
來源：英國私人收藏

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE CHINESE ART | 157