Robe
- Place of origin:
- Date:
possibly 1736-1795 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Embroidered coloured silks and gold thread on silk
- Credit Line:
Purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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Imperial robes worn by the emperor are often known as dragon robes partly because of the prominent dragon motif
This robe, made for an emperor, appears bright yellow, but it is entirely embroidered on blue silk.
Certain shades of yellow were restricted for the exclusive use of the Emperor and his immediate family. Apart from the five-clawed dragon, the Emperor's robe would also most likely carry the twelve imperial insignia: symbols including flames, an axe, libation cups are subtly incorporated in the robe.
Physical description
Twelve symbol dragon robe, embroidered yellow and blue ground. Blue silk ground embroidered yellow silk of a design of endless swastikas. Scattered all-over this surface are cloud-forms and the twelve symbols. Five-clawed dragons back and front and on the shoulders. Sea, earth and rocks round lower edge, and sleeves. Fastening at the side, the skirt is slit for about 2 feet up the centre at front and back. Sleeves shaped. Cuffs embroidered with same design. Three-quarters of sleeve is of dark blue silk, having single stripes of gold thread embroidery. Round the cuffs and round the neck are bands of gold and black brocade.
Colours: blues, pink, green, white, yellow, red, brown and gold thread.
Stitches: mainly couched work and satin stitch
Lining: bright blue satin- new on body
The sleeves have a damask pattern of flower roundels. Sleeves have been altered, cut and rejoined.
The robe may indeed never have been worn by an emperor, and the robe seems to be rather carelessly tailored.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
possibly 1736-1795 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Embroidered coloured silks and gold thread on silk
Dimensions
Height: 142.9 cm, Width: 193 cm
Descriptive line
Dragon robe, embroidered coloured silks and gold thread on silk, China, Qing dynasty, possibly Qianlong period (1736-1795).
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Vuilleumier pl. 1, Tsui book, no.86
Production Note
The shou (longevity) character embroidered on this robe is seen in two other robes made for the Qianlong Emperor, in the Palace Museum's collection (Gugong Inv. Nos: 44885 and 42113)
Subjects depicted
Dragon
Categories
Royalty; Textiles; Clothing; Embroidery
Collection code
EAS
