Lot 490. A Han-Chinese bridal-style coat for a child, mang'ao, 19th century. Estimate £600 - 800 (€760 - 1,000). Photo Bonhams.

he peach coloured satin richly embroidered in gold and brightly coloured threads with five-clawed dragons and phoenix amongst Buddhist symbols, gourds and flowers, all above a gold thread lishui band; together with a child's jacket of green silk woven with a pattern of lotus roundels amongst bats and ruyi clouds, with black ground embroidered hems. Each: 62cm (24 3/8in) long (2).

Property from Mr. and Mrs. C. Lefebvre Collection of Chinese Robes

Notes: For a very similar children's bridal-style jacket, but on a bright red ground, see John E. Vollmer, in his Dressed to Rule: 18th Century Court Attire in the Mactaggart Art Collection, University of Alberta Press: 2007, no. 2005.5.168. 

Vollmer points out the aspirational nature of this attire: as the main aspiration of most girls was marriage, their ceremonial robes were often patterned after bridal jackets, in the same way that boys wore miniature 'dragon' robes for New Year and family birthday celebrations. An example of a miniature 'dragon' robe for a boy is illustrated in the same volume, no. 2005.5.79.

Bonhams. AUCTION 23541: ASIAN ART, 10:30 BST - LONDON, KNIGHTSBRIDGE