A yellow silk embroidered 'dragon' bannerQing dynasty, 19th century清十九世紀 黄地刺綉龍紋旗Height 71 in., 180.5 cm; Width 69¼ in., 176 cm A few scattered tears, fraying, and faint staining to the yellow ground and edges, otherwise the embroidery is in good condition.For more information on and additional videos for this lot, please contact serina.wei@sothebys.comIn response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.Along with canopies and standards, colorful silk banners formed part of imperial regalia in the large audiences, ceremonies, and parades that took place at the Qing court. Triangular banners with serrated edges can be seen in paintings dating back to the Tang dynasty, and persisted throughout the history of imperial China. For Qing court paintings depicting banners similar to the present, compare three illustrated in The Complete Collection of the Treasures of the Palace Museum. Paintings by Court Artists of the Qing Court, Hong Kong, 1996, pls 34, 58, and 68. A yellow-ground Xianfeng period example embroidered with a blue dragon sold in our London rooms, 17th May 2019, lot 430. For slightly earlier 18th century 'dragon' military banners, see a green-ground example illustrated in John E. Vollmer, Silks for Thrones and Altars: Chinese Costumes and Textiles, Paris, 2004, pl. 35; a white-ground pair published in Robert D. Jacobsen, Imperial Silks: Ch'ing Dynasty Textiles in The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, vol. II, Minneapolis, 2000, pls 492 and 493, and a red-ground banner included in John E. Vollmer and Jacqueline Simcox, Emblems of Empire: Selections from the Mactaggart Art Collection, Edmonton, 2009, p. 160.