Page 113 - Bonhams FINE CHINESE ART London November 2 2021

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A RARE EMBROIDERED PALE-BLUE-GROUND SILK DAOIST
PRIEST’S ROBE, JIANGYI
Circa 1880
Of rectangular form with a central opening at the front, the heather-
blue brocade woven with intricate pale pink designs of sinuous
dragons striding chasing flaming pearls amid clusters of vaporous
clouds and leafy vines, the back elaborately decorated with the
square Daoist diagram incorporating symbols of the sun and moon
(cockerel and rabbit), the constellations and the symbolic forms of the
Five Sacred Mountains, all surrounded by cloud fronds, cranes and
phoenix, all worked in a fine net pattern of metallic couched threads,
all within borders incorporating five-clawed dragons, cranes, carps and
heavenly horses striding above rolling waves at the hems and back
and front sleeve openings, worked in very fine couched gold, multi-
coloured threads and gold leafed paper on a deep blue ground.
158 (62 2/8in) wide x 136cm (53 1/2in) long. (front)
£6,000 - 8,000 Jiangyi robes worn by the grand master consisted of two main lengths
CNY53,000 - 71,000 of yardage, sewn together up the back, with the front-left open. The
most important decoration appeared on the back of the garment
約1880年 淺藍緞地繡鬱羅蕭台瑞獸紋道教絳衣 as this was seen by the supplicants as the priest faced the altar to
Provenance: a distinguished New York private collection perform his rites. However, the grand master also faced outward,
sometimes descending to the lay people’s level, hence the translation
來源：紐約顯赫私人收藏 ‘robe of descent’. Symbolically, the wearers of garments decorated
with such cosmic designs were thought of becoming the animators of
Finely embroidered in multi-coloured silk, couched gold wrapped rituals and promoting harmony with Heaven and stability on Earth.
thread and gold-leaf paper, this exquisite garment was made for a
Daoist Priest of the First Degree. Daoist garments, also known as Compare with a related pale blue-ground embroidered silk Daoist
robes of descent, jiangyi, evoked the meditative transcendence of the Priest’s robe, late Qing dynasty, illustrated in Heaven’s Embroidered
wearer and are among the most sumptuous and visually spectacular Cloths. One Thousand Years of Chinese Textiles, Hong Kong, 1995,
works of Daoist ritual art. pp.186-187, no.48.
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 | 111