AN INFORMAL LADY'S DAMASK SILK ROBE WITH AUSPICIOUS SYMBOLS, QING DYNASTY
China, 19th century. The blue-ground damask silk robe is neatly embroidered with auspicious symbols including bats, pomegranates, grapes, peaches, Buddha's hand fruits and Buddhist symbols. The hem with an elegant lotus border. The sleeves decorated with a fine band of blossoms and butterflies. Gilt metal buttons.

Provenance: From a private collection in Texas, USA.
Condition: Very good condition overall with some old wear, traces of use, creasing, loose threads and minimal gaps near the collar.

Dimensions: Height 99 cm, Width 151 cm (across sleeves)

Damask is a silk with a 'hidden' pattern formed by weaving, and one of the five basic techniques of the Byzantine and Middle Eastern weaving centers of the early Middle Ages. In China, draw looms with a large number of heddles were developed to weave damasks with highly complex patterns. The Chinese may have produced these as early as the Tang Dynasty. Damasks derive their name from the city of Damascus—in that period a city active both in trading (as part of the silk road) and in manufacture.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related Lady's robe of blue silk damask, also dated to the 19th century, of slightly smaller size (137 cm), at Christie's London in Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art on 10 November 2015, sold for GBP 11,250. Compare also a related Lady's robe of black-ground silk, also dated to the late Qing dynasty, of slightly smaller size (109.4 cm), at Sotheby's New York in The Hundred Antiques: Fine and Decorative Asian Art on 24 March 2021, lot 581, sold for USD 11,340 (part lot).

清代湖藍地蝴蝶石榴花卉紋氅衣
中國，十九世紀。湖藍色地，圓領、大襟右衽，裾左右開至腋下，直身式袍；刺綉石榴花卉蝴蝶紋、佛手與佛教吉祥符號。鎏金紐扣。

來源：美國德克薩斯私人收藏。
品相：整體狀況極好，有一些舊磨損、使用痕跡、摺痕、鬆動，衣領附近有小縫隙。

尺寸：高99 厘米，兩袖之間間距151厘米

拍賣結果比較: 比較一件相近的十九世紀仕女藍色氅衣，十九世紀， 137 厘米，見倫敦佳士得Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 2015年11月10日，售價GBP 11,250；比較一件清代黑地仕女氅衣109.4 厘米，見紐約蘇富比The Hundred Antiques: Fine and Decorative Asian Art 2021年3月24日 lot 581, 售價USD 11,340 (此號拍品中的一件)。