A rare pale brown-ground 'dragon' robe, 18th century. Estimate US$ 60,000 - 100,000 (€53,000 - 89,000). Photo: Bonhams.

The pale olive-brown silk ground embellished with nine five-clawed dragons couched in reddish-gold wrapped silk thread, the front-facing dragons each encircling a flaming pearl and the sideways dragons each reaching towards a pearl, the dragon on the interior flap above a spreading gnarled branch of fruiting peach, all the surrounded by cranes in flight and red shou characters amidst delicately scrolling vines, the hem richly embroidered with weathered rocks issuing peach branches emerging from rounded foaming waves, the pale blue damask lining woven with flowers. 56 3/4in (144.4cm) long

Notes: It appears most likely that the present robe would have been worn at the celebration of a highly important birthday, given the symmetrical cranes, symbolic of longevity, and the bright red shou characters placed around the dragons. Brown-ground silk was reserved for high-ranking members of the Imperial family. 

The present robe is extremely rare in its olive-brown silk color, and for its embroidered ground of scrolling meander rather than the more typical cloud scrolls. The fruiting peach trees growing from the elaborately weathered rocks are also strikingly unusual and imaginatively conceived. In its use of space, originality of design, complementary colors and consummate embroidery skill, the robe is an extraordinary example of the highest quality Qing workmanship. 

A robe with related scrolling background is illustrated by R. D. Jacobsen, Imperial Silks: Ch'ing Dynasty Textiles in The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Vol. I, Minneapolis, 2000, pp. 140-1, no. 41, and a brown-ground robe with related naturalistic rock formations but dated prior to 1738, from the tomb of Prince Guo Qin Wang (1697-1738) is illustratedibid., no. 42.

BONHAMS. CHINESE PAINTINGS AND WORKS OF ART, 14 Sep 2015 10:00 EDT - NEW YORK