On brown ground silk kesi dragon robe. In polychrome and couched gold threads nine five clawed dragons, one dragon hidden on the underflap of the garment. The dragons chasing for the flaming pearl among clouds, bats, cranes and some precious things. The bottom of the textile is decorated with water waves and stylised rocks. The sleeves worked in pleated black silk, ending in horsehoof cuffs with further dragons, clouds and waves, side-fastening overlapping closure with metal buttons.... Click for details
DESCRIPTION: A vintage batik jacket and vest by the ethnic minority tribe “Ge,” a subgroup of the Miao culture. The Ge people live along the banks of the Chong-an-jiang River in Guizhou Province and are superlative batik artisans.
For this creation, hot wax was applied to the thick cloth in geometric designs consisting of a background of “wheels” edged in wide linear borders. The cloth was then dyed in indigo, dri... Click for details
A Chinese crimson silk embroidered robe with six roundels finely rendered with hares, standing maidens, flowers and ribbons. The collar and cuffs are in contrasting ivory embroidered with flowers. The lining is also of red satin silk. Condition: very good, no repair.size: 280 cm long. age: C. 1900
The shape of these bound foot shoes, with their very pointed toes and high curved instep, identifies their origin as North China. Their length, six inches, identifies their approximate age as early 20th century. Older golden lotus shoes, as they were called, usually were several inches shorter. Each of these black silk shoes has satin stitch embroidery with a butterfly, symbol of joy; a pomegranate, symbol of fertility, and several types of blossoms. The wear on the little soles and silk uppers ... Click for details
Qing Dynasty (19th century) Chinese Manchu style robe decorated in embroidered dragons chasing flaming pearls (symbolizing the Buddhist notion of enlightenment) executed in gold-couched thread on a blue silk ground. The eight full-face and profile four-clawed dragons are surrounded by clouds and various auspicious symbols. The dragon's eyes are accented in black and white. An embroidered panel surrounding the neckline is filled with additional dragons running across the top of waves. The bottom... Click for details
Chinese Qing dynasty (19th century) Daoist priest’s robe densely embroidered in a pattern of complex iconographical symbols set against a pale celadon silk background created entirely from satin-stitch embroidery. The style is the traditional rectangular front-opening form which rests on the shoulders and has the lower part of the sides sewn together to form armholes. The center back is embroidered with a flame-bordered circular cartouche containing a pagoda flanked by flying birds. Fifteen d... Click for details
Chinese late Qing dynasty (19th century) front-opening Han style lady's jacket embroidered with pale blue and white satin stitch flowers with Peking knot ("forbidden stitch") accents on a cobalt blue silk satin ground. The sleeve bands feature bats and Peking knot embroidered flowers set against a golden background. Three metal buttons secure the front. Measures 53" from sleeve tip to sleeve tip and 35” in length. The robe and lining are both in very good overall condition.
Chinese late Qing dynasty (late 19th century) woman's rank badge embroidered with a central satin-stitched silver pheasant with very nicely detailed feathers. A single bat hovers below the sun at the upper right. This Mandarin square would have been worn by the wife of a 5th rank civil official. The badge is backed with stiff paper covered with blue silk and is bordered on the front in red silk. This rank badge measures 8 3/8"V x 9 1/8"H. It is in very good overall condition with some minor... Click for details
This large, heavy apron shaped item with straps is a Miao baby carrier. It is covered overall with a combination of highly detailed embroidery in leaf and flower designs and a repeating pattern of circles and stars.
It dates to the first half of the 20th century and possibly earlier.
... Click for details
This rare Mandarin square, made before the 1870s and probably circa the early to mid 19th century, features the five clawed dragon as its rank motif. The use of the five clawed dragon was traditionally restricted to the imperial family, with the forward facing version generally to princes of the second rank and above.
Embroidered on silk gauze using seed stitch (also known as the forbidden stitch, blind stitch, Peki... Click for details
