Page 118 - 2019 September 11th Sotheby's Important Chinese Art

671

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF GEORGE AND ROSEMARY
LOIS
AN IMPERIAL YELLOW-GROUND FUR-
TRIMMED KESI TWELVE-SYMBOL ‘DRAGON’
ROBE (JIFU)
QING DYNASTY, GUANGXU PERIOD

finely woven, with nine golden dragons each pursuing a
‘flaming pearl’ amidst a network of blue lingzhi-shaped
cloud scrolls, bats, wan and shou characters, interspersed
with the Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority in orthodox
arrangement, the collar and horsehoof cuffs edged with
gold and black brocade, the sleeves with further dragons
in profile, all above a terrestrial diagram with pairs of ‘Eight
Buddhist Emblems” amidst the waves, a border of ruyi-
shaped clouds and lishui stripe below, the side flap edged
with fur
Length 68 in., 172.7; Height 52 in., 132.1 cm
PROVENANCE
Sotheby’s New York, 18th June 1980, lot 277.
Linda Wrigglesworth, London.
◉ $ 50,000-60,000

清光緒 米黃地緙絲十二章雲龍紋吉服
來源
紐約蘇富比1980年6月18日，編號277
Linda Wrigglesworth，倫敦

The present robe was very likely made for the Empress A similar kesi robe likely made for Cixi, sold at Christie’s New
Dowager Cixi (1835-1908). The lack of vents at the front York, 14th September 2017, lot 941. A version in silk floss, circa
and back identify it as a robe worn by a lady, and the Twelve 1875, was included in the exhibition Secret Splendors of the
Symbols of Imperial Authority clearly communicate the Chinese Court: Qing Dynasty Costume from the Charlotte Hill
status of its wearer. Grant Collection, Denver Art Museum, 1982, pp 60-61. Another
kesi robe possibly made for the Empress Dowager, woven
The Twelve Symbols are associated with the principal with a wan fret ground, sold in the same rooms 1st December
annual sacrifices offered by the emperor, and also represent 1994, lot 306. Compare also a man’s Twelve Symbol ‘dragon’
his righteous rule over the universe. They are arranged
here according to standard groupings: the sun, moon, robe made of summer gauze and attributed to the late Qing
constellation and rock placed around the neck, the fu, dynasty, sold at Christie’s London, 18th May 2012, lot 1255,
and an empress’ robe attributed to the early 19th century and
dragon, axe-head and golden pheasant at the body, and embroidered in satin stitch, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th
the sacrificial vessels, water plant, flame and grain above
the waves at the hem. Although the Huangchao liqi tushi November 2011, lot 3143.
technically restricted the use of the Twelve Symbols to only
the emperor, there are a number of men’s and women’s
robes, mostly dating from the second half of the 19th
century, that contain these symbols. A photographic portrait
of Cixi wearing a Twelve Symbol ‘dragon’ robe is illustrated
in Gary Dickinson & Linda Wrigglesworth, Imperial Wardrobe,
Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 75.

116 SOTHEBY’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART