Lot 134. A blue-ground summer gauze 'dragon' robe, jifu, late 19th-early 20th century. Estimation: USD 2,000 - 3,000. Price realised: 2,400 USD. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.

The robe is worked in couched gold threads with nine five-clawed dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls amidst cloud scrolls, bats, shou-roundels and the emblems of the Eight Immortals above lishui stripes. 

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

Note: Gauze robes were favoured during the hot, summer months. Chris Hall writes in Chris Hall et al., Power Dressing: Textiles for Rulers and Priests from the Chris Hall Collection, Asian Civilisation Museum, Singapore, 2006, that the colour blue was used in dragon robes by third and fourth degree princes and nobles down to eleventh degree and officials.

Christie's on line. The Art of China.