Lot 293. Three uncut silk 'dragons' robes, Mid to late 19th century. Estimate £ 4,000-6000. Sold for £ 12,500 (€ 13,964). Photo: Bonhams.

Comprising: two similar small apricot yellow-ground nine-dragon robes, one embroidered with golden, the other with blue dragons, each 197cm x 147.5cm (77 1/2in x 58in) and 199cm x 146.5cm (78 3/8in x 57 5/8in); and a larger brown silk robe, with nine golden dragons chasing flaming pearls amidst constellation-clouds, bats and golden wan roundels, all above tumultuous waves interspersed with the bajixiang and breaking against a rocky outcrop issuing from a lishui border, 297.5cm x 144cm (117in x 56 5/8in). (3).

Note: The small size of the embroidered orange-ground silk robes suggest that they were intended for a child: most likely for a son of the Emperor other than the heir himself. Whilst a minor would not have been permitted to wear the Imperial symbols, the robes are instead richly decorated with auspicious symbols such as bats with peaches and bats with wan symbols, representing wishes for 'wealth', 'long life' and 'ten thousand blessings'.

The brown-ground of the larger robe indicates that it would have been intended for a member of the Imperial household such as a duke, marquis, or a son-in-law of the Emperor, and the high status of the intended wearer is reinforced by the presence of the five-clawed dragons. Again, auspicious symbols such as the bats and shou characters provide lively detail within the court hierarchy, and further suggest that the robe was made for a birthday celebration, probably that of the Emperor himself.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, 14 May 2015, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET