A MASSIVE YELLOW-GROUND EMBROIDERED SILK 'DRAGON' ALTAR FRONTAL
Late Qing dynasty
The long horizontal panel embroidered in gold-wrapped threads and polychrome silk stitches against a rich yellow ground, dominated by three mighty five-clawed dragons contesting flaming pearls, the central dragon writhing in a frontal pose, the other two bounding towards the center, all surrounded by ruyi-cloud scrolls, bats, and the bajixiang above mountains emerging from waves, lishui stripes at the bottom, across the top a separately woven navy silk band embroidered with three gold 'shou' roundels and bats in flight amidst clouds, all set within a blue brocade border, synthetic gauze backing.

48 1/2 x 123 1/2in (123 x 313.8cm)
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PLEASE NOTE: This report describes, but may not be limited to, major condition issues for the lot.

Color fading; mild staining on yellow silk; loose threads noticeable to the central front-facing dragon, the side-view dragon on the right, as well as to the shou roundels. Tears to the top blue brocade band.