Page 119 - Bonhams Chinese Works of Art December 2014

8249 8250

8249 FINE Chinese Works of Art | 117
An embroidered formal lady’s silk satin dragon
surcoat, longgua
Qing dynasty, 19th century
Designed with a center front opening, the deep blue silk worked in
gold-wrapped threads and rich colored silk flosses with eight roundels
containing dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls above terrestrial peaks
and oceans, enclosed by clouds and Daoist symbols, each sleeve
ornamented with three small similar roundels, all above borders of
terrestrial peaks soaring from crashing waves churning Buddhist
treasures above linshui stripes
48 3/4in (124cm) long
$15,000 - 25,000

According to Valery Garrett, empresses, high-ranking consorts,
and noblewomen were required to wear a longgua in public. It was
designed as a full-length surcoat in deep blue satin or gauze, with
center-opening and wide sleeves and decorated with dragon roundels
arranged over it. See Chinese Dress from the Qing dynasty to the
Present, Tuttle Publishing, 2007, pp. 45-46.

8250
A pair of martial official’s rank badges
Late Qing dynasty
The pair denoting a fourth-rank military official, each with an applied
and separately worked tiger with its jaws wide open trying to catch a
flaming ball amid cloud scrolls surrounding the sun, all above borders
of waves, scrolls and lishui pattern, the stich work using wrapped gilt
and silver threads and silk flosses in blue, red, pink, and green.
8 1/4 x 9in (21 x 22.8cm)
$2,000 - 3,000