QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

细节

A BROWN-GROUND EMBROIDERED SILK DRAGON ROBE, JIFU
Qianlong period (1736-1795)
Worked in finely couched gold threads and satin stitch with eight contorted five-clawed dragons amidst stylized clouds, flying bats, and the winter flowers, plum blossom, narcissus, and camellia above the terrestrial diagram with branches of coral, ruyi, and auspicious objects issuing from the turbulent waves above the lishui stripe at the hem, all against a rich, lustrous brown ground, with dark blue dragon borders at the collar and cuffs
57in. (144.8cm.) long

拍品专文

The golden brown color of this robe is probably the 'tawny yellow' color which was appropriate for members of the imperial clan other than the emperor and his immediate family. See G. Dickinson and L. Wrigglesworth, Imperial Wardrobe, London, 1990, p. 161, where the authors illustrate a brown-ground dragon robe and note that, "the manuscript based on the Huangchao liqi tushi appears to have given members of the imperial family the choice of either blue or brown robes. Brown was considered to be an off-shade of yellow." Compare a similar brown-ground dragon robe, but without the floral designs, sold in these rooms, 23 March 1995, lot 283.