"Golden Dragon" Imperial Silk Robe

Exquisite embroidery creates a fantastical backdrop for the mystical dragons that adorn this 19th-century Chinese robe. Depicted with great detail and fancy, golden dragons twist and twirl their way across the garment, through a celestial realm of otherworldly swirls, ruyi-shaped clouds, and ribbon-clad scholars' objects. Each dragon soars towards an auspicious flaming pearl, a motif representing the pursuit of power, rank and success. Stitched against a field of pale yellow silk, the robe's gold, green and blue imagery represents the splendors of the heavenly realm. Created during the Qing Dynasty when rules on apparel were strictly followed, this lovely silk garment would have been immediately recognized as belonging to a person of great status and rank.

Robe has multiple areas with significant wear.