A RARE IMPERIAL SILK BROCADE SUMMER ROBE, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century

h cm 140 x l cm 210

The blue brocade is finely embroidered with gold thread with the usual nine five-clawed dragons, two of which are depicted full-frontal as they leap around a 'flaming pearl' on the front and back, while six more on the front, back and shoulders are depicted as they catch the pearl, as is the ninth on the inside flap. All the dragons are set among clouds, lingzhi and bats under waves through which bajixian flows; the cuffs and collar are also decorated with dragons and clouds.