Lot 198

The robe has suffered considerable light damage and loss of colour at the hem at the front of the robe where it has been wet in past, the Kesi panels decorating the robe are in fragile condition, all edgings appear to be original, Conservation treatment by Artlab in 1991.


The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to inspect articles for sale at our pre-sale viewing where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice.
Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.

Purchased: James R. Lawson Pty Ltd., November 1972, No. 330; Ex Mr. Igor Zurich Collection, Adelaide.

Peter Fish, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 November, 1997 on Chinese textiles.

Red silk was used for various celebrations and this robe was probably an under robe to a more elaborate waistcoat or over garment. The dragon roundels indicate that this robe was used within the Imperial court by the wife of a first degree prince.
Reference: Please see the similar c1880-1940 monochrome roundel designs on silk that form part of the Addiss Bequest of 1983 at the V&A Museum, London, as illustrated in Verity Wilson's, Chinese Textiles, Fig. 90, p81; for very similar late 19th century example, please refer to the informal lady's robe at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, as illustrated in Robert Jacobsen's, Imperial Silks - Ch'ing Dynasty Textiles, Vol. I, Fig 100.