A LARGE CHINESE EMBROIDERED 'DRAGON' PANEL

Qing Dynasty

Elaborately embroidered with two opposing five-clawed dragons each couched with gilt-wrapped thread, flying through the air in pursuit of a pearl in the form of a large shou character, with soaring bats and polychrome lotus flowers blossoming from twisting leafy stems on a wan ground formed of blue and black thread, the lower portion of the textile decorated with large rolling waves crashing into a central mountain formation above a lishui border embellished with ruyi heads and the bajixiang, the left and right sides of the panel framed by vertical borders enclosing bats, shou characters and stylised lotus flowers,

171cm high, 298cm long

Provenance: French private collection, acquired in the 1920s from the Duguet family collection

清 藍地金龍紋刺繡屏

來源：法國私人收藏，於1920年代從 Duguet 家族舊藏購入。

Note: Impressive in size and masterfully woven with a plethora of motifs and details, this hanging would have likely been displayed in a ceremonial hall for a special occasion. The pair of five-clawed dragons, delicately couched with gilt-wrapped thread, are a defining symbol of imperial power. Usually depicted chasing a flaming pearl, this textile sees the powerful dragons contesting a large shou character, a symbol of longevity, and when combined with the flying fu bats and wan symbols adorning the background it conveys the rebus ‘may you live for ten thousand years’.

A Qianlong-period kesi wall hanging, decorated with two confronting five-clawed dragons flanking a large shou character, was sold at Bonhams New Bond Street, Fine Chinese Art including Imperial and Court Textiles Curated by Linda Wrigglesworth, 2^nd November 2021, lot 227.