Lot 494. A brown silk civil servant's official surcoat, pufu, 19th century. Estimate £600 - 800 (€760 - 1,000). Photo Bonhams.

The brown silk damasked with a design of meandering lotus, centrally split, with applied square badges to front and back, probably representing a Paradise Flycatcher for the ninth rank; together with a light blue satin collar, richly embroidered in gold thread and Peking knot with Buddhist Lions and Happy Omens; and three further square rank badges, two military badges for the second rank, bearing a lion looking at a coral-embroidered sun, and one for a first rank civil official, bearing a crane in flight.The surcoat: 87.5cm (34 1/2in) long (5).

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

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