A blue silk gauze 'dragon' robe


Late Qing dynastyWoven in pale color threads with nine five-clawed dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls surrounded by bats, cloud scrolls, auspicious emblems, and a basket of flowers to the front and back, all above lishui stripes and terrestrial diagrams emerging from churning waves at the hem, the eyes of each dragon picked out in black and blue colors, the black sleeve bands woven in gold threads, the collar and horseshoe cuffs similarly woven with further dragon motifs (some loose threads).54 1/2in (138.5cm) long