Orange silk gauze dragon robe, embroidered, China

Imperial dragon robe, semi-formal, (jifu), orange silk gauze / silk/ metallic thread, maker unknown, China, c. 1800

Imperial dragon robe, a semi-formal court robe or `jifu' of orange silk gauze with side fastening of cast metal ball buttons and silk cord loops, long tapered sleeves with horse hoof shaped cuffs, skirt split at centre front and back to knee. Orange silk gauze embroidered with nine five-clawed dragons worked in couched gold ans silver metallic threads, each dragon playing with a flaming disc motif, deep `lishui' border bands at hem and elbows with mountains, waves, clouds, bats and precious objects, the body of the robe worked in counted thread embroidery with clouds, bats and `ligzhi' motifs using blues, white, reds and lime green silk thread. Blue silk gauze cuffs, neck and opening bands embroidered with smaller metallic thread dragons and motifs similar to those worked on the body of the robe.