AN IMPERIAL YELLOW-GROUND SILK ‘FIVE DRAGON’ CARPET, JINGREN RONG BEI YONG MARK (FOR USE IN THE PALACE OF GREAT BENEVOLENCE), QING DYNASTY
China, 19th century. Finely woven in shades of blue, Imperial yellow, orange, and red with a central lobed roundel enclosing a front-facing five-clawed dragon, writhing around a flaming pearl. Encircled by four sinuous dragons amid leafy lotus scroll, surrounded by a narrow key-fret border within a band of the Eight Buddhist Emblems (bajixiang), alternating with blossoming peony. The top edge with the five-character mark.


Inscriptions:
To the top edge, ‘Jingren Gong bei yong’ (for the use in the Palace of Great Benevolence).


Provenance
: From a European private collection.

Condition
: Superb condition with only minor wear. The pile is high, the threads with a good shine and only few minor pulls. Some losses to fringes.

Dimensions: Size ca. 250 x 158 cm


The five-character inscription
woven at the top of the carpet reads Jingren Gong beiyong and can be translated as 'For the use of the Hall of Great Benevolence'. Jingren Gong was one of the Six Eastern Halls located on the north-eastern side of the Forbidden City in Beijing. During the Qing dynasty, the Six Eastern Halls served as the living quarters of the Imperial wives and concubines. Jingren Gong is known to have housed the Shunzhi Emperor's wife, and it was where the Kangxi Emperor was born. The Hall was reconstructed in 1655 and during the reigns of the Qianlong Emperor and the Daoguang Emperor it served as the living quarter of the Empress Dowagers.


While the dragon itself
is the symbol of the Emperor, the number five is most auspicious and represents the Five Blessings (wufu) of old age, wealth, health, virtue and peaceful death. The design of Five Dragons also alludes to the Five Dragons of Yanshan (Yanshan wulong), named after the five sons of Dou Yujun, who lived in Yanshan during the Five dynasties period (907-960), each of whom achieved exceptional success with their father epitomizing the ideal parent.


The Eight Buddhist Emblems (bajixiang)
are a set of traditional symbols that represent the offerings made by the gods to Buddha upon his enlightenment. The symbols include the parasol, the golden fish, the conch shell, the endless knot, the lotus flower, the victory banner, the Dharma wheel, and the treasure vase. Each symbol has its own significance and is used in various contexts, such as in religious rituals, on prayer flags, and in artwork. Together, these symbols are believed to bring good fortune, prosperity, and happiness to those who use or encounter them.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 16 May 2013, lot 409
Estimate: GBP 25,000 or approx.
EUR 44,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rectangular 'dragon' carpet, late Qing dynasty, Jingren Gong bei yong inscription
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of weaving and decoration with similar arrangement of five dragons, the identical inscription, and the near-identical size (153 x 245 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Paris, 18 June 2020, lot 28
Price: EUR 40,000 or approx.
EUR 45,000
adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Imperial silk 'Five Dragon' carpet, Taihe dian bei yong Mark, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of weaving and decoration with similar arrangement of five dragons as well as the related inscription albeit referring to a different hall. Note the slightly larger size (277 x 186 cm).




清代御製黃地五龍絲毯

中國，十九世紀。採用藍色、帝王黃、橙色和紅色精心編織而成，中央有開光，正面環繞著一條戲珠五爪龍，四周纏枝蓮紋，四角盤踞四龍，回紋邊框，八吉祥圖案與盛開的牡丹交替出現。


款識：
景仁宮備用


來源：
歐洲私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極佳，僅有輕微磨損。絲毯厚重，紗線光澤良好，只有輕微磨損。一些邊緣損失。

尺寸：250 x 158 厘米


地毯頂部編織的五字銘文為“景仁宮備用”
。景仁宮位於北京故宮東北側，是東六殿之一。清朝時期，東六殿是后妃的居住場所，曾是順治皇帝的皇后的住所，也是康熙皇帝的出生地。該殿於1655年重建，乾隆、道光年間為皇太后的寢宮。


拍賣結果比較：


形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2013年5月16日，lot 409
估價：GBP 25,000（相當於今日
EUR 44,000
）
描述：清晚期「景仁宮備用」繡五龍紋地毯
專家評論：比較非常相近的編織風格和五龍紋，以及相同的款識，幾乎相同的尺寸 (153 x 245 釐米)。


拍賣結果比較：


形制：非常相近
拍賣：巴黎蘇富比，2020年6月18日，lot 28
價格：EUR 40,000（相當於今日
EUR 45,000
）
描述：清十九世紀御製黃地絲絨五龍紋地毯 《太和殿備用》款
專家評論：比較非常相近的編織風格和五龍紋，以及相同的款識，但款識不同。請注意尺寸較大 (277 x 186 釐米)。