A blue ground summer gauze dragon robe, Jifu, Qing dynasty, circa 1900.

The blue gauze is worked in couched gold thread and counted stitch with the prescribed nine five-clawed dragons, two on the front and back shown clutching flaming pearls while the others are shown reaching for the pearl, all amidst lingzhi-shaped clouds interspersed with 'precious objects' and bats. The whole is set above a terrestrial diagram and lishui stripe separated by further clouds, and with similar decoration repeated on the border, collar and cuffs. Height back 130 cm. Length arm to arm 200 cm. Wear. Loose threads.