A decorative fragment taken from the cuffs (horse-hoof shape) of a summer silk dragon robe with five clawed front facing dragons (couched pure silver wrapped threads) on a fish net like gauze weave. Each dragons appears to be wearing headdress. The cuffs from each sleeve are sewn together in the center and the borders are silver brocades. Circa, first half of 19th century. Approx. 19" x 15 1/4"
A Chinese informal robe with mandarin collar, decorated using couched silver threads, with auspicious symbols of baskets with flowers, double eternal knots, scattered fruit and flowers and a central floral roundel above stylized waves and water, all on a dark blue silk ground (near black); lighter blue lining. Circa 1900 - 1920.
A section of old Chinese court robe with four-clawed dragon (mang) in dark blue satin and brocades. We had seen a similar large square with the dragon's face partially missing (four-clawed) at the Kyoto National Museum website sometimes ago. The square (pre 16th century red silk) was once converted to a samurai's ginbaori (sleeveless jacket worn over the armor) for a famous general. Circa, 19th century. 27" x 29 1/2"
A beautiful Chinese silk rug (6' x 9'); the yellow field bearing a central medallion of a front-facing dragon with four side-facing dragons in each corner, all on a stylized linked flower head ground, the border with stylized lotus, peony and other flowers of good fortune.
This is an old hand woven carpet in great quality. The whitish areas shown in some photos are reflections of light on the silk. The five c ...click for details
A woven square taken from the front of a Chinese Emperor's robe with a front facing dragon in couched gold and a constellation symbol.
Yellow (or apricot yellow) robes could only be worn by the Emperor or Empress. The color has faded and changed to this current tan color. Each Emperor's robe had twelve symbols of Imperial Authority embroidered on it in specific places. We can see "The Constellation" which represents the handles of Ursa Major, the Big Dipper, just above th ...click for details
There have been decorative textiles sewn into squares or rectangular shapes since the Edo period in Japan. The small squares are made for tea ceremonies; the medium to larger sized ones (called fukusa) are used to cover seasonal and ceremonial gifts. This old Chinese panel was acquired in Japan mixing into our fukusa collection.
A dragon and phoenix together symbolize the emperor and empress in China. The phoenix th ...click for details
