Asian Works of Art

清晚期 藍緞地龍紋吉服
the ground of plain blue weave finely worked to the front, back, and interior flap with nine front-facing and confronting five-clawed dragons with radiating scales of couched metallic gilt-wrapped threads, each in pursuit of a polychrome floss embroidered flaming pearl, and interspersed with the beribboned auspicious Eight Buddhist Emblems, bajixiang, alongside bats, crane roundels, and couched gilt shou medallions amidst vaporous cloud wisps; all above a terrestrial diagram with turbulent waves crashed with auspicious symbols against craggy peaks, and a five-color lishui stripe at the hem, the collar and horseshoe cuffs worked with further dragons against a deeper ground; partially lined in pale blue and finished with gilt bronze buttons to silk toggles.