Page 202 - Bonhams Asian Art May2016 UK

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A BROWN SILK CIVIL SERVANT’S
495 (part lot) OFFICIAL SURCOAT, PUFU
200 | BONHAMS 19th century
The brown silk damasked with a design of
meandering lotus, centrally split, with applied
square badges to front and back, probably
representing a Paradise Flycatcher for the
ninth rank; together with a light blue satin
collar, richly embroidered in gold thread
and Peking knot with Buddhist Lions and
Happy Omens; and three further square
rank badges, two military badges for the
second rank, bearing a lion looking at a coral-
embroidered sun, and one for a first rank civil
official, bearing a crane in flight.
The surcoat: 87.5cm (34 1/2in) long (5).

£600 - 800
CNY5,500 - 7,300
HK$6,600 - 8,800

Property from Mr. and Mrs. C. Lefebvre
Collection of Chinese Robes

495
A SMALL GROUP OF EMBROIDERED
SKIRTS AND ACCESSORIES
19th century
The apron skirts of green, vermilion and
brown satins, each of typical pleated design
and embroidered with floral motifs in both
straight stitches and Peking knot; together
with a beige and brown satin collar or neck
pendant embroidered with Peking knot and
gold thread flowers and butterflies; and
an unusual small wallet-style embroidered
purse also with Peking knot and gold thread
decoration.
The green skirt: 101cm (39 3/4in) long (5).

£400 - 600
CNY3,700 - 5,500
HK$4,400 - 6,600

Property from Mr. and Mrs. C. Lefebvre
Collection of Chinese Robes

Similar purses are illustrated by John E.
Vollmer, Celebrating Virtue: Prestige Costume
and Fabrics of Late Imperial China, Textile
Museum of Canada: 2000, p. 15, and Verity
Wilson, Chinese Dress, Victoria and Albert
Museum, London: 1989, p.70, pl.58. A similar
piece was also sold by Christies New York, 19
March 2008, lot 67.

For examples of collars or neck pendants
see Paul Haig and Marla Shelton, Threads of
Gold: Chinese Textiles: Ming to Ching, Schiffer
Publishing: 2006, p. 206. A collar of this type
was offered by Christies New York, 19 March
2008, lot 76.