Silk Canopy with the Brocade Fragment of a Collar from a Formal Court Robe

This square dark-brown canopy consists of two panels sewn together, which were initially made for a robe cloth. A brilliant four petal-shaped brocade decorates the centre of the canopy, containing two active dragons. These dragons, woven in gold-wrapped threads and polychrome silk floss, have four claws (mang) and are surrounded by vivid red flames. There are colourful clouds scattered around the dragons, with four sets of clouds forming a ring in the centre, where they would have initially surrounded the neckline of a robe. Woven waves and rocks provide a border around the petal shape.

At close inspection, the dark brown background is a satin damask with a continuous cloud pattern. Both the background damask and dragon brocade were woven in one piece. This canopy, although following a typical Ming era court robe style, would have been used to decorate the top of a temple.