An embroidered blue silk ground dragon robe, 19th century. Photo Bonhams

The dragons couched with gilt wrapped threads while all the remaining decoration to include the bats, clouds and 'Eight Buddhist Treasures' on the wanzi diapered ground as well as the tall lishui border are rendered in counted stitch, the cuffs and collar bands worked en suite on a black ground.; 54 1/2in (138.5cm) long. Sold for US$7,500 

Bonhams. Fine Asian Works of Art, 20 Dec 2011. California, San Francisco www.bonhams.com