Robe, formal outer-wear for an Imperial concubine, plain-weave and tapestry-weave silk; lined with fur, China, 19th century

Formal yellow silk outer robe for an Imperial concubine. The robe is fur-lined with artic fox (Alopex lagopus), the long sleeves with horseshoe cuffs are edged with brown fur that has been identified as mink (Mustela lutreola).

It is decorated with eight kesi roundels, a neck border, sleeve bands and horse hoof cuffs which were designed to be worn turned back. The roundels have a yellow key fret pattern on a blue ground and five-clawed dragons in gold. It is also decorated with cloud and wave forms and bats in reds, blues, browns, white and gold.

The neck, and sleeve bands and the cuffs have a light blue key fret pattern on a dark blue ground, with five-clawed dragons, clouds, waves and bats. They are also edged with a narrow blue and gold border. The colours also include some greens and yellows here. There is a band of navy blue silk between the cuff and sleeve band.

The robe does not open down the front and is fastened with black tying strings and loops. The skirt is slit up the sides.

Given by Miss E. M. Barnes

The design of this robe is that of the formal outer wear of an Imperial Concubine, but it is cut like a dragon robe and has no central slit.

This yellow woman's dragon robe could have been worn by the empress and bears twelve dragons confined to roundels over the garment. This robe was fully lined with fur throughout and has fur-edged horse hoof cuffs which were designed to be worn turned back. It does not feature the hem border decoration which was typical of dragon robes.

This is a dragon robe made for a woman, possibly for an Empress. It is fully lined with fur throughout, being made for cold northern winters, and fur-edged horsehoof cuffs would be revealed when the cuffs were worn turned back. It does not feature the hem border decoration which was typical of dragon's robe.

T.766-1950