A COMPOUND CRIMSON VELVET ‘DRAGON’ TEXTILE OR WALL HANGING POSSIBLY A FRAGMENT OF A TEXTILE PRESERVED AT THE VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM CHINA, QING DYNASTY, POSSIBLY 18TH CENTURY Of rectangular shape, it has been made of different fragments of a same textile cut into different parts, most probably in Europe, to ornate a wall with a decorative mirroring effect. It has been made of two layers: the first one is a tapestry base; the second one is a crimson velvet (in French: velours), that has been cut off - with a technique that may be described as ‘dévoré’ (in English also: burnout) - to draw a reserved motif. The latter depicts confronted four-clawed dragons by pair in medallions, key-frets bands, clouds, other flying dragons in pursuance of the flaming pearl, bounds books (i.e. one of the emblems of the literati) and rhinoceros horns y pair (one of the ‘Eight ordinary symbols’). L: 157,5cm- width: 84cm Provenance (according to the seller): French Consul in Ventiane, Laos, circa 1900-1920. Then brought back to France. Then by descent in the family up to the current owner. Notes: Symbols: According to the Chinese Manchu étiquette, four-clawed dragons may have been used for Princes. The dragon (long - 龙) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and is believed to live in the mountains or in the seas and can fly into the heavens. It also symbolizes benevolence, prosperity, longevity and the renewal of life. Clouds (xiangyun - 祥云) represent the heavens and also ‘good luck’ because the Chinese word for cloud (yun - 云) is pronounced the same as ‘yun’ (运) meaning ‘luck’ or ‘fortune’. The technique used on this textile to draw the design may be called ‘dévoré’ (or ‘burnout’), whereby parts of the crimson velvet have been cut off (parts of the material have been removed). It is highly likely that those ‘reserves’ may have originally been applied with gold threads, thereby creating a contrast between the motif (mostly dragons) and the crimson red or velvet ground. Those fragments of a same piece of textile might be compared with a textile panel preserved in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&AM), London, UK, under accession number 1590-1888. Our hanging and that panel might have originally formed a single piece of textile. Currently not on view, the V&AM’s piece of fabric is described in its actual notice as: ‘Panel of crimson velvet, with a pattern of dragons and clouds in gold thread - 18th century (made)’ (sic.), thereby confirming that our textile might have been applied with gold threads. Its original description was as follows: ‘Velvet woven in silk and strips of gilt paper. CHINESE; probably 18th century’ (sic.). 龙纹织物或挂毯，可能出自于维多利亚及阿尔伯特博物馆藏残片 中国，清代，可能为18世纪 NOTE: CONDITION REPORTS AND MEASUREMENTS It is up to the bidder to satisfy themselves prior to buying as to the condition of a lot. In relation to Condition Reports, whilst we make certain observations on the lot, which are intended to be as helpful as possible, references in the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. The condition report is an expression of opinion only and must not be treated as a statement of fact. Measurements and weight are approximate and the potential bidder may re-ask it to be checked when asking for a condition report.