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Antique Kesi Cloth, Chinese Emperor's Robe with Dragon browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Chinese:Textiles: Pre 1900: item # 740340
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| A kesi woven square taken from the front of a Chinese Emperor's robe with a front facing dragon in couched gold and 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 the dragon's head. (Three linked dots). The technique used in making this is known as kesi (pronounced kossu). It is not embroidery but woven on a loom with each color starting and finishing in its own area. It is a complex and costly technique. The dragons in metallic thread are then 'couched' (laid and held with threads) over this. Dating this to a particular Emperor is slightly hard but the strong pink/purple color may indicate that this was made in the later half of 1800s. Dimensions: 8" wide x 8 3/16" in length | |||||||||||||
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