A Manchu noblewoman's embroidered midnight blue surcoat (longgua). Late 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
Intricately embroidered in white, polychrome and gilt-wrapped threads with eight roundels of five-clawed dragons grasping a precious pearl surrounded by clouds, bats, ribboned auspicious emblems and a shou medallion, all above a wide lishui border that repeats on the edges of the sleeves below three tiny dragon roundels embroidered en suite. 57 1/4in (145.5cm) long - Estimate: US$20,000 - 30,000
A chestnut silk ground embroidered dragon robe. Late 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
The rampant dragons and shou medallions worked in couched gilt-wrapped threads surrounded by cloud scrolls, cranes, bats and other auspicious emblems above a wide lishui border defined in brightly hued satin stitch, the black ground collar band and cuffs worked en suite; with quilted blue brocade silk lining. 54 1/2in (138.5cm) long - Estimate: US$20,000 - 30,000
A fine blue silk ground embroidered dragon robe; Late 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
The rampant dragons worked in dark ivory and white threads that also appear with subdued shades of blue, green and purple to form the clouds, bats and auspicious symbols above a wide lishui border, the collar and cuffs embroidered en suite on a black ground. 51 1/4in (130cm) long 6 Estimate: US$15,000 - 25,000
A yellow silk ground embroidered dragon robe. 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
Its nine dragons designed with scales of couched gilt-wrapped threads as they chase flaming pearls amid brightly colored clouds, ribboned symbols of the Eight Immortals and a basket of peaches floating above a wide lishui border, the black ground collar band and cuffs embroidered en suite. 40 1/4in (102cm) long - Estimate: US$10,000 - 15,000
A chestnut silk ground embroidered dragon robe. 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
Its nine dragons executed in gilt wrapped threads, the cloud scrolls and lishui border in satin stitch and various auspicious symbols including the center basket of peaches and emblems of the 'Eight Immortals' rendered in knotted stitch; the black ground neck band and cuffs worked en suite. 57in (145cm) long - Estimate: US$10,000 - 15,000
A black satin ground surcoat with embroidered dragon roundels (gunfu). Late Qing Dynasty. Photo Bonhams
The simply constructed coat with center front opening embroidered to the front, back and each shoulder with a roundel of clouds surrounding a five-clawed dragon beneath a tiny wanshou medallion surrounded by clouds, the decoration worked in silver and gilt-wrapped threads with pale blue and white threads defining the dragon's eyes. 46 3/4in (118.5cm) long - Estimate: US$8,000 - 10,000
A blue silk ground kesi-woven dragon robe. Late 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
The dragons and shou medallions worked in gilt-wrapped threads while the remaining decoration is achieved in white and brightly colored threads on the medium blue ground, the collar band and cuffs woven en suite on a black ground. 52 1/2in (133.5cm) high - Estimate: US$5,000 - 8,000
A blue silk gauze dragon robe with embroidered decoration; Late 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
The dragons worked in gilt-wrapped threads in a couched technique while the remainder of the decoration and the wide lishui border is finished in counted stitch, the collar band and cuffs embroidered en suite on a black gauze ground. 58 1/2in (148.5cm) long - Estimate: US$4,000 - 6,000
A Tibetan chuba of Chinese brocade silk with fur trim. Photo Bonhams
A Manchu noblewoman's red silk ground embroidered informal robe. Late 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
Intricately worked in satin stitch with roundels of butterflies and flower sprigs encircling a crane holding a lingzhi fungus branch above a wide lishui border, the black ground collar and large cuffs embroidered en suite. 53in (134.5cm) long - Estimate: US$4,000 - 6,000
A black silk ground Daoist priest's robe with embroidered decoration. Late Qing/Republic Period. Photo Bonhams
The back of the robe centered with a triangular reserve of a tower surrounded by disks representing the Twenty-eight Lunar Mansions, depictions of the Eight Daoist Immortals in further roundels, other auspicious symbols and characters worked in brightly colored satin stitches and gilt-wrapped threads in a couching technique, the border bands of dragons and trigrams to the back and front sleeves rendered en suite. 53in (134.5cm) long - Estimate: US$3,000 - 5,000
A Manchu noblewoman's kesi-woven silk semi-formal court robe (danpao). Late 19th Century. Photo BonhamsPhoto Bonhams
The cherry red ground surrounding roundels centered with cranes holding auspicious peach branches amid gourds, seasonal flowers and butterflies partially woven with colored threads and some details added in brightly hued pigments, the wide lishui border and the black-ground collar and cuffs decorated en suite. 54 1/2in (138.5cm) long - Estimate: US$2,000 - 3,000
A dark blue silk ground embroidered woman's informal overcoat. 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
With center front opening, the garment displaying satin and knotting stitches to form the floral springs and lishui ground while couched gilt-wrapped threads define the ribboned auspicious symbols, the cream silk sleeve bands embroidered en suite with peacocks, pomegranates and garden rocks. 45in (114.5cm) long - Estimate: US$2,000 - 3,000
A woman's cream brocade silk ground three-quarter length coat with elaborate embroidered decoration. Late 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
Featuring figural roundels worked in brightly colored threads against a wanzi diaper background of couched gilt wrapped threads that also appear in tiny floral roundels scattered amid butterflies and seasonal blossoms, the collar and border bands embroidered en suite on a black ground and the sleeve bands including knotted stitches in the flowers on a leaf green ground. 42 1/2in (108cm) long - Estimate: US$2,000 - 3,000
A woman's midnight blue silk overcoat with polychrome figure embroidery. Late 19th Century. Photo Bonhams
Featuring roundels of the 'Eight Daoist Immortals' and other legendary figures worked in brightly colored threads set within edited landscape settings limited to shades of blue and white with some details outlined in gilt-wrapped couched threads, the surrounding scattered floral sprays and the narrow lishui border embroidered en suite, all in contrast to the brightly colored figure scenes filling the ivory silk ground sleeve bands. 41 1/4in (105cm) long - Estimate: US$1,800 - 2,500
