Page 136 - Christie's Fine Chinese Paintings March 19 2019 Auction

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF AN AMERICAN GENTLEMAN
1656
AN IMPERIAL YELLOW KESI TWELVE SYMBOL ‘DRAGON ROBE’,
LONGPAO
GUANGXU PERIOD (1875-1908)
The kesi ground is woven in shades of blue, violet, red, pink and gold threads
with nine fve-clawed dragons clutching or confronting faming pearls amidst
clusters of ruyi-shaped clouds interspersed with bats, shou characters, and
auspicious emblems. The Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority are arranged
in three groups of four: the sun, the moon, constellation and mountain around
the neck; the fu symbol, axe, paired dragons, and golden pheasant around the
body; and the pair of libation cups, aquatic grass, grains of millet and fames,
all reserved on a bright yellow ground above the Eight Buddhist Emblems
rising from the terrestrial diagram and lishui stripe at the hem; with midnight-
blue cufs and collar decorated with further dragons and clouds. The interior of
the garment is stamped with a Vatican stamp dated 4 Giu. (June) 1955.
56 in. (142.2 cm.) long, 85æ in. (217.8 cm.) wide
$120,000-180,000

PROVENANCE
Sotheby’s New York, 23 March 2004, lot 553.
清光緒 御製黃地緙絲金龍十二章龍袍

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