Late Qing dynasty The midnight-blue robe embroidered with fine couched gilt threads and polychrome silk floss to form energetic five-clawed dragons pursuing precious pearls on the chest, back, and each shoulder amid ruyi-clouds and auspicious emblems, framed by lishui stripes with soaring mountain peaks rising from crashing waves churning further auspicious symbols, the waist band decorated with paired dragons and clouds on either side of the terrestrial diagram above waves, the design repeated on the edge of the pleated skirt below seventeen dragon roundels and a square flap with an additional front-facing dragon, all bordered in black and gold brocade. 50 1/2in (128.2cm) long