AN EMBROIDERED GAUZE SUMMER DRAGON ROBE, JIFU, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. The blue gauze worked in couched gold thread and counted stitch with the prescribed nine five-clawed dragons, two shown full-face writhing around a flaming pearl on the front while the seven others are shown clutching the magic pearl.

Provenance: From the collection of Alexander Popov in Novi Sad, Kingdom of Serbia, acquired between 1900-1920.
Condition: Overall good condition with some wear, minor tears and small losses, few loose threads, some soiling here and there.

Dimensions: Length 203 cm (cuff to cuff)

The dragons surrounded by lingzhi-shaped clouds interspersed with auspicious symbols, stylized characters, and flying bats, above a terrestrial diagram and lishui stripe separated by crashing waves, with similar decoration repeated on the border, collar and horse hoof cuffs.

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related embroidered blue gauze summer dragon robe, of only slightly smaller size (187.9 cm long, cuff to cuff) and dated to the 19^th century, at Christie’s New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 23 March 2012, lot 1630, sold for USD 13,750. 清代藍地納紗金龍紋吉服
中國, 1644-1912年。藍地納紗金線九龍紋，其中一對金龍戲珠，而其他七條則都抓著一枚火珠。

來源：塞爾維亞諾維薩德Alexander Popov 私人收藏，購於1900-1920間。
品相：總體品相良好，有一些磨損，輕微的撕裂和小缺損，少量鬆動絲線，局部有些污跡。
尺寸：長 203 厘米 (袖口至袖口)

拍賣結果比較：一件十九世紀藍地納紗金龍紋吉服，只是袖口稍小 (袖口至袖口長187.9 厘米) ，見紐約佳士得 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2012年3月23日 lot 1630, 售價USD 13,750。