Page 95 - Bonhams FINE CHINESE ART London November 2 2021

Badges buzi displaying fabulous creatures,
birds or animals were worn by the members
of the Qing ruling elites as part of their Court
dress. The various species, whether real or
imaginary, signified the wearer’s rank and
the badges were worn in pairs on the bufu
surcoat. Accordingly, one badge was attached
to the back of the surcoat, the other was
made in two parts, which were respectively
placed to either side of the opening on the
chest. Compare with a similar silk ‘Golden
Pheasant’ embroidered badge, 18th century
or earlier, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York, acc.no.1988.104.89.
274
AN EMBROIDERED IMPERIAL SILK
‘DRAGON’ ROUNDEL, BUZI
Early 19th century
The circular badge finely embroidered
depicting a front-facing five-clawed dragon
worked in couched gold and silver threads
embracing a flaming pearl, all against a dense
ground of vaporous clouds interspersed with
red bats above jagged mountains emerging
from crested waves. 28.5cm (11 1/8in) long.
£3,000 - 5,000
CNY27,000 - 45,000
十九世紀早期 御製彩繡雲龍紋圓補 273

Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth,
London, 1994
A British private collection

來源：倫敦古董商Linda Wrigglesworth，
1994年
澳洲私人收藏

Richly embroidered with a front-facing striding
five-clawed dragon pursuing the flaming
pearl, the present roundel would have been
worn on a ceremonial surcoat belonging to
a member of the Imperial family. The origin
of Imperial surcoats gunfu appears to date
to the Zhou dynasty (circa 1050-265BC).
The name continued to be used throughout
the Qing dynasty, suggesting the Emperors’
intention of representing themselves as
custodians of ancient China’s heritage.
The Emperor’s surcoat was decorated with
four or eight roundels each centred with a
five-clawed dragon, long. The Emperor’s
roundels positioned at the shoulders were
also decorated with the symbols of the sun
and the moon, two of the most important
Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority. One of
the first references to the garment in the early
eighteenth century Court regulations specifies
the wearing of the gunfu on the occasion of
the first day of the annual sacrifices at the
Altar of Heaven; see S.V.R.Camman, China’s
Dragon Robes, New York, 1952, p.28. By the
mid eighteenth century, wearing a surcoat
over a semi-formal dragon robe jifu, was
widespread throughout the Court. Compare
with a similar silk ‘dragon’ embroidered 274
roundel, early 19th century, which was sold
at Christie’s Hong Kong, 26 November 2014,
lot 3417.
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 | 93