A rare Chinese yellow silk 'Imperial Court Opera' theatrical dragon robe, Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period (1875-1908), embroidered with dragons, clouds and auspicious motifs in satin stitch and with bright silk threads incorporating Pekin knot stitch, cranes symbolic of long life fly amongst the clouds, cuff to cuff 219 cm x 129cm cuff to collar Provenance: Dr Edwin Robert Wheeler (1878-1965) of the Peking Union Medical College and by descent to the family and then to the present owner These large robes were worn by an actor playing the part of an Emperor, minister or general at the Imperial Court Opera. They are very similar to the formal and semi-formal imperial robes of the Emperor. Compare with a similar robe illustrated, Dr Mae Anna Pang, Dragon Emperor, Treasures from the Forbidden City, Loan Exhibition in three Australian museums form 16th December, 1988 to 30th July 1989, page 132.清光绪 御制黄地龙纹戏袍 拍品来源：前协和医学堂（今协和医科大学）Edwin Robert Wheeler 博士家族旧藏