Beschreibung:

A Chinese Imperial apricot-ground, consort’s formal court robe jifu, 19th century, embroidered in counted stitch with nine embroidered dragons, 147cm high and 97cm wide The robe is finely worked in satin stitches in shades of blue, green, red, aubergine and ochre and couched vibrant gold threads with nine five-clawed dragons clutching or confronting flaming pearls amidst dense ruyi clouds interspersed with bats and the Eight Precious Things on both the front and back against an apricot ground. The matching dark blue-ground cuffs and collar are worked with further dragons amidst bats, clouds and waves, below blue silk sleeve extensions. The chapters on Imperial robes in the Historical Manuscript of the Qing dynasty, Qing Shi Gao 清史稿, contain a precise description of the nature and position of the decorative elements for a robe that find a counterpart in the robe included in this catalogue. The Eight Precious Things were drawn from a large repertoire symbolise luck and prosperity, including the pearl representing good fortune, evolving over time into flaming coloured jewels, a lozenge, once an ancient headdress symbolising victory, often appearing in interlocking pairs, a stone chime, a ministerial emblem embodying upright values, homophone with qing 謦 meaning congratulations, pair of books, symbol of learning, pairs of rhinoceros horns, symbolising happiness, artemisia leaf, symbolising good luck and prevention of diseases. Provenance: Private European collection. 杏黄缎，圆领，襟左右开，马蹄袖，裾四开，直立式袍。领、袖边石青地上绣海水龙蝠纹，领、襟装布扣四枚。袍面如意云纹,金线绣龙纹，间以成对的八吉祥纹，火珠、火焰於四周飘绕。下幅绣八宝立水图案。 据《清史稿．志七十八．舆服志》记载：「龙袍，色用明黄。领、袖俱石青，片金缘。绣文金龙九。列十二章，间以五色云。领前後正龙各一，左、右及交襟处行龙各一，袖端正龙各一。下幅八宝立水，襟左右开，棉、袷、纱、裘，各惟其时。」由此可见清代对龙袍在形制、制作工艺、装饰图案以及对於衣服的色彩上都规定得十分严谨苛刻。