AN IMPORTANT ROBE FOR A TIBETAN NOBLEMAN MADE OF IMPERIAL YELLOW SILK

Estimated Value:

2.500 € - 3.500 €

Result:

28.490 € incl. Premium and VAT

Description:

Tibet, silk from China, Qianlong period, 18th c.
B. 192 cm, L. 145 cm
Outer fabric: silk satin (imperial yellow), additional pattern weft: silk (blue, red, green, yellow, pink, gray in graduated tones, white, black), gold thread, brocaded. Lining: cotton, tabby weave, printed with flowers, probably imported from India. Ribbons of red and white striped woven fabric. Eight five-clawed dragons between clouds in five colors are woven in golden thread into the imperial yellow silk satin of the robe. The moving, slender bodies of the dragons, the design of the clouds, the deep water with wavy diagonal lines and the waves curled into large spirals with treasures floating between them are all pointing to date the silk to the Qianlong period. The dragons in the lower section depicted in profile have each grasped the flaming pearl with their front foot. This is interpreted as a sign that the robe was intended for the emperor himself or a member of his immediate family. This is also supported by the first-class quality of the design and workmanship, as well as the materials used. To remake the robe (chuba) for a Tibetan nobleman or high-ranking Buddhist, the usual adjustments were made and so the sleeves are composed of pieces. The use of a cotton fabric printed and dyed with stamps in India as a lining and the accentuation of the hems by the bands of red and white striped fabric, which was used diagonally here, are unusual.
From a Franconian private collection, collected between 1960 and 1990 - Cf. Chuba made of very similarly designed silk: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Edward and Goldie Sternberg Chinese Art Purchase Fund 2000, Inv. No. 137.2000, publ.: Rutherford/Menzies: Celestial Silk, Sydney 2004, p. 43. Chuba robe of imperial silk; Hong Kong Museum (ed.): Heavens Embroidered Cloths, Hong Kong 1995, pp.220-221 - Signs of age and use, slightly faded, surface somewhat wear

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