BLUE-GROUND GAUZE 'NINE DRAGONS' SUMMER ROBE, JIFU QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY 清 藍地納紗繡金九龍雲蝠紋吉服袍 finely embroidered in couched gold thread and counted stitch with nine five-clawed dragons, two on the front and back shown front facing while the others reach for the pearl, all amidst ruyi clouds interspersed with the attributes of the Eight Taoist immortals and bats, all set above lishui stripes and terrestrial diagrams emerging from swirling waves and soaring mountain, the sleeves terminating in horse-hoof cuffs, the collar band and cuffs similarly embroidered and edged with gold brocade (227cm across the shoulder; 147cm high) Qty: (1) Provenance: Private collection, Janet McCorkindale Cochrane Scott (1909 - 2005), thence by descent. Janet McCorkindale Cochrane Scott was a keen embroiderer and was Chairman of the Glasgow Embroiderers’ Guild. She was given the collection of what appeared to be ornate Chinese embroidery and clothing items by a fellow member of the Guild. She gave the collection to her daughter-in-law, who is also a keen embroiderer, in the late 1990’s. An article was written on the Dragon Robe by a member of the Guild and included in their publication Embroiderers’ Guild Scottish Branches - The Digest 1996/1997, pp. 31 & 32. (A copy is enclosed). Note: Government officials and members of the imperial court were entitled to wear dragon robes. Designs and colours were regulated by rank; for example, only the emperor, the heir apparent, empress, and empress dowager could wear yellow robes. Only the imperial family and high-ranking princes were allowed to wear robes with nine dragons. Only the upper echelons were allowed to wear dragons with five claws; the lower orders wore four-clawed dragons. The eight colourful dragons on the main body of the robe (five on the front, three on the back) are shown in different positions, such as front-facing and rising. The ninth dragon is hidden inside the flap. The designs on this robe were embroidered on top of a woven gauze fabric. This robe is made of gauze fabric that is like a very fine net, which allows air to circulate and keeps its wearer cool in warm weather. Most of the embroidery stitches are vertical and cover about two rows of the gauze weave.