Page 86 - Bonhams, FIne Chinese Art, Linda Wrigglesworth Collection, May 13, 2021 London

78
AN EXTREMELY RARE EMBROIDERED SILK BLUE-GROUND
‘DRAGON’ RANK BADGE
Kangxi
Finely embroidered in rich couched-gold thread with a central
commanding front-facing four-clawed dragon striding in pursuit of a
flaming pearl amidst flames and formal four-fold ruyi cloud scrolls, all
on a deep midnight-blue satin silk ground, mounted.
38cm (15in) x 37cm (14 1/2in).
£12,000 - 15,000
CNY110,000 - 140,000
清康熙 藍地刺繡金龍紋方補

Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth, London, purchased in the early
1980’s.
Dragon roundel from a yellow-ground silk robe,
Kangxi; image courtesy of the Palace Museum, Beijing 來源：倫敦Linda Wrigglesworth，購於二十世紀八十年代初

No identical example appears to have been published in public Two badges were normally attached to the costume, respectively to
collections. Fully embroidered in fine couched-gold thread with a the back and front, which was was split to allow the garment to be
bold powerful front-facing dragon, highly-detailed with large eyes and buttoned up at the front. The badge system was first introduced in
flowing mane between its horns, the present badge is a rare example 1391 during the Ming period and continued onto the Qing dynasty, the
dating to the Kangxi reign. The badge shows the prosperous era of styles changed according to the taste of the time; see L.Wrigglesworth
the Kangxi emperor’s reign using the finest gold thread of the highest and G.Dickinson, The Imperial Wardrobe, London, 1990, pp.120-142.
quality. In addition, a fine blue thread defines the dragon’s scale with
original selvedge and border intact. Stylistically, the present dragon closely compares with the writhing
dragons featured with prominent heads if compared to their bodies,
Square badges decorated with a front-facing four-clawed dragon such highly-defined round cheeks and flowing mane and whiskers, which
as the present example were typically reserved for Imperial dukes decorate the yellow-ground Imperial robe, dated to the early Qing
of the fourth rank. Rank badges decorated with dragons identified dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete
members of the Imperial family and princes of the first to eighth ranks. Collection of Treasures from the Palace Museum. Costumes and
The first four ranks were solely granted to direct male-line descendants Accessories of the Qing Court, Shanghai, 2006, no.23. See also
of the emperor. The highest six ranks enjoyed the ‘Eight Privileges’, the dragons within the roundels decorating a blue-ground silk robe,
gifts of the emperor, which included jade books, sets of seals for Kangxi, also in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in ibid., no.10,
correspondence, precious stones on the mandarin hat crests, dragon and the dragons decorating a blue-ground man’s formal court coat,
robes and Imperial porcelain wares; see T.A.Wilson, On Sacred illustrated by J.Vollmer, Silks for Thrones and Altars. Silk for Thrones
Grounds: Culture, Society, Politics, and the Formation of the Cult of and Altars: Chinese Costumes and Textiles from the Liao Through the
Confucius, Boston Ma, 2002, pp.69 and 315. The ‘Eight Privileges’ Qing, Berkeley, 2004, pp.48-49, no.20.
entitled the prince to participate in state councils and share the spoils
of war. However, the prince was also bound to reside in the capital and
render service to the Imperial court.

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