For a Manchu mandarin. I am sure you will have noticed the plain sleeves with the horseshoe cuffs have been removed and Chinese women's sleevebands substituted! The sleevebands are actually rather nice. Of course if you happened to have a pair of original sleeves these could be re instated. The side facing dragons have a great deal of movement as does the lishui wave border. Their scales are particularly good example, and the counted stitch embroidery is good quality in beautiful colours, many shaded.
This aniline purple was one of the first synthetic dyes created and was the Dowager Empress Cixi's favorite colou. She was impressed by the modern scientific technology which produced it.
The deep blue silk gauze robe with gold filé dragons, the chest and top of the sleeves with a full frontal dragon, side facing examples near the hem and on the inner flap, all chasing a flaming pearl, the centre front and back with large peaches, all surrounded by Buddhist symbols (good fortune) including the canopy, conch shell, fish as well as the endless knot interspersed with bats (happiness symbols) and clouds, the counted stitch silk embroidery worked in polychrome palette with shading, using terracotta, coral, ivory, rich cream, shades of blue and ochre, all above a buoyant lishui wave border.
As already mentioned the sleeves have been removed. Some of the gold filé couching of the dragons is coming away, but could easily be reinstated. All the gold thread is there, just coming away and hanging. Ask for more photos. The centre front dragon is fine; The lower left needs a very little re applying; The lower right needs a lot. The shoulder dragons need re couching. The centre back is fine, but the lower dragons needs some work. Otherwise no stains or tears. The blue silk gauze lining is very damaged to the neck area and there is more damage lower down near the hem. Ask for more photos.
All images and text © meg-andrews.com 2021
