A fine Chinese blue-ground embroidered dragon robe , Jifu, Qing Dynasty, early to mid 19th century, the robe is finely worked in satin stitches in shades of blue, green, red, coral and yellow and couched vibrant gold threads with nine five-clawed dragons clutching or confronting 'flaming pearls' amidst dense ruyi clouds interspersed with bats , with shou symbols and original matching collar and cuffs above the terrestrial diagram and lishui stripe at the hem and with further dragons amidst bats, clouds and waves, below ribbed sleeve extensions enriched with a blue lining, the inside bottom with inventory marker label, the robe originally worn by a Mandarin of the Imperial court, approximately 223cm wide cuff to cuff and 148cm high neck to hem It is possible this robe was never intended to be lined as the embroidery is of such high quality and is almost double-sided. Provenance: By descent through an American family whose ancestors acquired the robe in China, circa 1900. 清 19世纪早中期 石青地龙纹吉服 拍品来源：美国家族旧藏， 1900年左右购自中国