A kesi silk blue-ground 'nine-dragon' robe
Late Qing Dynasty
The light silk robe woven on the front and back with a front-facing five-clawed dragon encircling a flaming pearl above two further striding five-clawed dragons each in pursuit of a pearl, each sleeve also with a five-clawed dragon around a flaming pearl, all amidst cloud scrolls and scattered bats, crane medallions and Daoist symbols including the double gourd and the castanets tied with trailing lotus blossom stems, the interior flap with the ninth five-clawed dragon pursuing a pearl, the hem with dragons and the Eight Buddhist Emblems, bajixiang, rising from foaming waves. 143cm (56¼in) long
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