Page 196 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

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AN EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE AND RARE IMPERIAL
YELLOW-GROUND EMBROIDERED SILK ‘DRAGON’ PANEL
Qianlong
The massive panel with an impressive central gilt-couched front-facing
five-clawed dragon clutching a flaming pearl, flanked by two side-
facing dragons amongst further flaming pearls interspersed amidst
colourful ruyi cloud scrolls and above crashing waves.
364cm (143 2/8in) long x 239cm (94cm) wide.
£30,000 - 50,000
CNY270,000 - 440,000
清乾隆 禦制黃地彩繡趕珠龍紋掛屏

Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth, London

來源：英國倫敦古董商，Linda Wrigglesworth

Superbly woven and impressive in its exceptionally large size, this
magnificent brocade is a splendid testament to the scale and opulence
of the Qianlong court. This panel was probably the central part of a very
large imperial hanging which functioned either as a backdrop or curtain
in one of the ceremonial halls within the Forbidden City. The complete
panel would have likely consisted of nine writhing dragons interspersed
within a celestial landscape of clouds, mountain and waves.

Capable of flying high in the sky and diving back in the sea, dragons
were regarded in China as intermediaries between Heaven and Earth
and empowered with extraordinary powers that compared with those
of the emperors. In conjunction with the flaming pearl, the dragon
formed the visual metaphor of the good ruler who behaved wisely for
the well being of his subjects.

A closely related Imperial yellow-ground ‘dragon’ panel, mid-18th
century, featured as the central part of a massive curtain hanging, is
illustrated by R.Jacobsen, Imperial Silks: Chi’ing Dynasty Textiles In
The Minneapolis Institute Of Arts, Minneapolis, 2002, pp.956-957,
cat.no.474.

Image courtesy of The Minneapolis Institute Of Arts, Minneapolis

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