China, first half of 19th century. Finely worked in couched gold threads with nine writhing five-clawed dragons confronting flaming pearls amidst clusters of vaporous ruyi clouds interspersed with bats and the Eight Buddhist Emblems, all reserved on a blue ground above auspicious emblems rising from the terrestrial diagram and a lishui stripe at the hem.

Provenance: From a private collection in Mississippi, United States.
Condition: Good condition with minor wear, minimal soiling, loose threads, and small tears and losses.

Dimensions: Length 132 cm, Width 210 cm (across sleeves)

The midnight-blue sleeves and collar similarly worked with further dragons and clouds enclosed by a lotus-decorated hem, the interior with a light blue lining.

The gold thread employed for decorating this remarkable robe was made by beating high carat gold into gold leaf and pasting it on to a paper support with lac from a lacquer tree. The gilt material would then be burnished and cut into fine strips before being wrapped around a silk thread core. The gold threads would then be couched down on top of the silk to form the dragons.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 21 March 2018, lot 615
Price: USD 16,250 or approx. EUR 18,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A blue embroidered 'dragon' robe (Jifu) Qing dynasty, Jiaqing period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related materials, decorations, and motifs. Note the size (142.6 x 221 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 2 November 2020, lot 112
Price: GBP 10,062 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A blue-ground couched 'nine-dragons' gold robe, Jifu, circa 1850
Expert remark: Compare the closely related materials, decorations, and motifs. Note the size (143 x 220 cm).

13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.