Lot 1630. An embroidered blue gauze summer dragon robe, jifu, 19th century. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. Price realised USD 13,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012 

The blue gauze worked in couched gold thread and counted stitch with the prescribed nine five-clawed dragons, two shown full-face leaping around a flaming pearl on the front and the back while six others on the front, back and shoulders are shown reaching for the pearl, as is the ninth on the underflap, all amidst lingzhi-shaped clouds interspersed with 'precious objects' and bats, above a terrestrial diagram and lishui stripe separated by further clouds, with similar decoration repeated on the border, collar and horsehoof cuffs, 74 in. (187.9 cm.) cuff to cuff . 

Note: A similar 19th century blue-ground silk gauze jifu was sold in these rooms, 17 September 2008, lot 171. .

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Part I), 22-23 March 2012, New York