Page 116 - Bonhams FINE CHINESE ART London November 2 2021

292
A FINE UNCUT ‘MIDNIGHT-BLUE’ GAUZE Qing Court officials could be recognised by
SILK ‘GOLDEN PHEASANT,’ BUFU their Court surcoat, or outer coat bufu, such
Late 19th century as the present example. A pair of identical
Elegantly fashioned from rich midnight-blue insignia badges buzi, were embroidered
gauze silk with front, back and side vents directly on the back and chest of the garment,
and a front opening, finely embroidered on indicating the high rank of the wearer. The fact
the front and back rank badges finely made that the badge is embroidered directly into the
of colourful thread, each depicting a golden silk ground further reinforces the high status
pheasant for the Second Civil Rank, the bird and wealth of the wearer.
standing atop a rock arising from foaming
waves interspersed with bats and vaporous The golden pheasant, shown in a finely-
clouds, all above rolling waves, all within a delineated terrestrial diagram, corresponds to
border decorated with stylised chi long on a the Second-Rank civil official.
key-fret and Shou symbols ground.
186cm (73 2/8in) wide x 126cm (49 1/2in) Compare with a very similar dark-blue gauze
long. silk surcoat, late 19th century, illustrated by
J.Vollmer, ‘Clothed to Rule the J.Vollmer, ‘Clothed to Rule the Universe: Ming
Universe: Ming and Qing Dynasty £2,000 - 3,000 and Qing Dynasty Textiles at The Art Institute
Textiles at The Art Institute of Chicago’, CNY18,000 - 27,000 of Chicago’, in Art Institute of Chicago
in Art Institute of Chicago Museum
Studies, vol.26, no.2, p.20, pl.III. 十九世紀晚期 藏藍地納紗繡錦雞紋二品文官 Museum Studies, vol.26, no.2, p.20, pl.III.
補服
Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth, London, See also a pair of related kesi ‘goose’ badges,
early 1980’s. 19th century, which was sold at Christie’s
London, 15 May 2013, lot 727.
來源：二十世紀八十年代早期，
倫敦Linda Wrigglesworth

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