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A RARE CHINESE IMPERIAL SEMI-FORMAL CHESTNUT BROWN NINE-DRAGON (LONGPAO) ROBE (JIFU), QING DYNASTY, LATE KANGXI PERIOD/EARLY YONGZHENG PERIOD, CIRCA 1680-1735
The fantastic robe, with original Chinese tailoring, has been carefully embroidered with the five-clawed gold-thread long dragons amidst colourful clouds, with 'flaming pearls', above crashing waves and a 'lishui' (standing waves) border, The iconography representing the universe, with the earth, sea and sky. The sleeves, with matching horseshoe cuffs are typical of Qing court fashion. The robe has been later stamped near the collar. The lining, brass buttons, and holes all appear to be original.
This Manchu nine-dragon robe symbolises the Confucian ideal of eight fields protected by a ninth encircling it, as depicted by four dragons radiating from the neck and on the chest, shoulders and back. These pointed to the direction of the cardinal points on the compass. Four additional dragons appear on the skirts of the robe. A ninth dragon, unseen is placed on the inner flap of the robe. Nine has a long association with the emperor, and is an auspicious number.
Qing dynasty Court Regulation stated that the depiction of the five-clawed dragon was to be worn only by the members of the imperial family and close members of the clan. The colour of the silk background too, had great significance to determine the wearer of the garment. The colour bronze/brown was the colour worn by the imperial princes of the first and second rank. This robe is likely to have belonged to a seventeenth/eighteenth century prince.
140cm length
Catalogue Note:
Chinese dragon robes from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) were considered the quintessential social emblems to reflect imperial rank and status. The permission to wear one was recognised as representing one's official status, legitimacy and access to power. The imperial dragon Robes jifu have been the subject of great research, and numerous important international exhibitions over the years.
For comparison, please refer to: Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 8 October, 2013, 'Property of An American Gentleman', lots 3087 and 3090, as well as a black dragon robe in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, dated to the first quarter of the eighteenth century, and illustrated in Vollmer's Ruling From The Dragon Throne, p.100, fig. 4,18; and a lovely pale blue example, illustrated by Judith Rutherford and Jackie Menzies in Celestial Silks, p. 65, fig. 31, now in a private collection in Melbourne.
References:
Rutherford, J., and Menzies, J., Celestial Silks: Chinese Religious and Court Textiles, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 31 July - 24 October, 2004.
Steele, V. and Major, J.S., China Chic - East Meets West, Yale University Press, London, 1999.
Vollmer, J. E., Ruling from the Dragon Throne: Costume of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, 2002
Sold for $27,050
Lot 148
The fantastic robe, with original Chinese tailoring, has been carefully embroidered with the five-clawed gold-thread long dragons amidst colourful clouds, with 'flaming pearls', above crashing waves and a 'lishui' (standing waves) border, The iconography representing the universe, with the earth, sea and sky. The sleeves, with matching horseshoe cuffs are typical of Qing court fashion. The robe has been later stamped near the collar. The lining, brass buttons, and holes all appear to be original.
This Manchu nine-dragon robe symbolises the Confucian ideal of eight fields protected by a ninth encircling it, as depicted by four dragons radiating from the neck and on the chest, shoulders and back. These pointed to the direction of the cardinal points on the compass. Four additional dragons appear on the skirts of the robe. A ninth dragon, unseen is placed on the inner flap of the robe. Nine has a long association with the emperor, and is an auspicious number.
Qing dynasty Court Regulation stated that the depiction of the five-clawed dragon was to be worn only by the members of the imperial family and close members of the clan. The colour of the silk background too, had great significance to determine the wearer of the garment. The colour bronze/brown was the colour worn by the imperial princes of the first and second rank. This robe is likely to have belonged to a seventeenth/eighteenth century prince.
140cm length
Catalogue Note:
Chinese dragon robes from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) were considered the quintessential social emblems to reflect imperial rank and status. The permission to wear one was recognised as representing one's official status, legitimacy and access to power. The imperial dragon Robes jifu have been the subject of great research, and numerous important international exhibitions over the years.
For comparison, please refer to: Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 8 October, 2013, 'Property of An American Gentleman', lots 3087 and 3090, as well as a black dragon robe in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, dated to the first quarter of the eighteenth century, and illustrated in Vollmer's Ruling From The Dragon Throne, p.100, fig. 4,18; and a lovely pale blue example, illustrated by Judith Rutherford and Jackie Menzies in Celestial Silks, p. 65, fig. 31, now in a private collection in Melbourne.
References:
Rutherford, J., and Menzies, J., Celestial Silks: Chinese Religious and Court Textiles, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 31 July - 24 October, 2004.
Steele, V. and Major, J.S., China Chic - East Meets West, Yale University Press, London, 1999.
Vollmer, J. E., Ruling from the Dragon Throne: Costume of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, 2002
Estimate $40,000 - $60,000
Classic Furniture & Objects Auction
AUCTION
Sale: LJ2451
11:00am - 30 May 2015
333 Malvern Rd, South Yarra 3141
VIEWING
Saturday 23 May 10am - 5pm
Sunday 24 May 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 27 May 9am - 8pm
Thursday 28 May 10am - 4pm
Friday 29 May 10am - 4pm
CONTACT
Guy Cairnduff
guy.cairnduff@leonardjoel.com.au
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A FINE CHINESE SEMI-FORMAL SILK NINE-DRAGON LONGPAO ROBE JIFU, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911), PROBABLY GUANGXU PERIOD, LATE 19TH CENTURY
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