AN IMPERIAL EMBROIDERED YELLOW-GROUND TWELVE-SYMBOL DRAGON ROBE, JIFU - MID-QING PERIOD

Finely couched in gold and silver thread with nine contorted five-clawed dragons clutching 'flaming pearls', further embroidered in silk threads in shades of blue, green, grey, red and ochre with the twelve imperial symbols amid stylised clouds interspersed with bats, all reserved on a rich, yellow ground above the terrestrial diagram with lishi stripe at the hem, with a dark blue-ground border at the cuffs and striped blue extensions. 58¾ in. (149.3 cm.) long - Estimate: £25,000 - £35,000 (($49,425 - $69,195)

Christie's London. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART INCLUDING EXPORT ART. 13 May 2008