Page 66 - Christie's London China Trade Paintings Kelton Collection

*43
[HOWQUA (WU BINGJIAN) (1769-1843)]
Howqua's Dragon Robe ('long pao') and Outer Coat ('pu fu') with embroidered rank badge, and undergarment
dyed and embroidered silk and satin
approx. 87 x 56Ωin. (220.9 x 143.5cm.)
£12,000-16,000 US$15,000-20,000
€14,000-18,000

PROVENANCE:
William Henry Low II, Canton, a gift from Howqua, and thence by descent to Caroline Low Kenyon, from whom acquired by the late
owner, 1994.
EXHIBITED:
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Maritime Museum,The Dragon and the Eagle: American Traders in China, A Century of Trade from 1784 to 1900,
Dec. 2019-April 2019, no.2.13.
Howqua's Qing oficial dress marking his rank and high status as the leading oficial of the Co-hong. This is his summer robe, his
winter robe and outer coat were lined with fur (as worn in the Lamqua portrait, lot 44). The costume was introduced in the mid-17th
century when a new style of patterned robe with an embroidered patch on front and back (denoting the wearer's rank) became
regulation dress (ming fu). The dragon robes (long pao) 'are mosty blue, but brown, turquoise, orange, yellow and red ones do exist
and were predominantly worn by men. ... The salient features are the hem design of stripes representing water with turbulent waves
above, repeated on the sleeves at elbow level, and mountain peaks rising from the water, with symmetrically-placed dragons among
clouds covering the main body of the garment.' (V. Wilson, Chinese Dress, London, 1986, p.12).