A Chinese blue gauze court ‘dragon robe’, jifu, 19th century. Photo Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions.

finely worked in couched gilt thread depicting nine five-clawed dragons with flaming pearls, amidst lingzhi shaped clouds, auspicious emblems and bats above foaming waves and lishui stripes, with similar pattern embroidered to the horse shoe cuffs, 138.5 cm high and 211cm wide. Estimate £1,000-1,500

Provenance: Private UK Collection. Acquired in conjunction with lot 69, with Linda Wrigglesworth package.

清十九世纪 蓝地织绣蟒纹吉服

Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions. Chinese Ceramics and Asian Works of Art. 17th May 2014. http://www.dreweatts.com/