Women's Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Hand-Embroidered Silk Dragon Robe
Item Details
A women’s Chinese, late Qing Dynasty, embroidered silk on silk dragon robe, circa 1900. The dark blue silk robe is a work of art, exquisitely hand-embroidered throughout. It has a mandarin collar, very long, full sleeves, side slits, and a curved hem that falls well below the knee. The collar and front placket are edged in red and black silk, with brown carved button and loop closures. White floral embroidered silk ribbon with blue flowers accents the chest and trims the sleeves. The cuffs of the sleeves are in a lighter blue silk, embellished with four-clawed golden dragons. The body and sleeves of the robe are lavishly hand-embroidered in silk threads, featuring large four-clawed dragons, fire, flowers, bat symbols, scrolls, clouds and luishi wave motifs, in a palette of white, light blue, dark blue, coral, yellow and green. The large dragon motifs are embroidered in threads of metallic silver and gold, with coral, green and blue accents. The sleeve bands are embroidered in golden metallic threading depicting a five-clawed dragon and phoenix symbols which symbolize the empress and the emperor. The robe has no maker’s marks or labels.
Condition
- minor bleeding of dye in areas; minor stain on the back of left sleeve; minor stains in other areas
Dimensions
- 46.5" length, approximately 19" shoulder, 26" sleeves, 56" chest, 52" waist
Item #
18CHI001-033
