Rare, ancient and ornate Qing dynasty Chinese robes are expected to sell for thousands of pounds at auction in October.
Chinese bidders are expected to come out in force to secure the rare items which include a Qing dynasty (1644 to 1912) full length court robe, possibly Qianlong period (1735 to 1796), with gold buttons. It’s thought to be particularly rare due to the nature of its embroidered decoration which includes dragons, breaking waves and bats. It will be offered by Hansons London on October 30 with an estimate of £8,000-£10,000 (lot 1).
The sale also includes a Qing dynasty dragon robe with gold wirework decoration featuring a ferocious, four-clawed dragon, probably Guangxu period, £2,000-£3,000 (lot 2). In addition, a dark blue silk Chinese Republican period robe has a guide price of £300-£500 (lot 3).
The items, uncovered by Hansons London in Richmond Upon Thames, have come to auction thanks to an artist’s eye for Chinese decorative flair.
The London seller said: “Our mother arrived in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, accompanying our father due to his lifelong career in banking. She was a keen artist and soon discovered the fascinating world of Asian antiques during frequent visits to Hollywood Road [Hong Kong street renowned for its antiques market].
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OCT 30 HANSONS LONDON CATALOGUE
“She was especially fascinated by the quality and detail of the antique Chinese textiles she saw there and soon learnt about the meaning and symbolism captured within them. Whenever she could, our mother would bring home an antique whether it was a particularly exquisite piece of embroidery, a sleeve-band and even occasionally, when her budget allowed, an entire robe.
“These were not investments for her but a passion. She loved nothing better than to bring her textiles out and explain to visitors, young and old, what the different symbols meant. She never wanted to part with her beloved textiles but, following her passing almost ten years ago, my sister and I would now like to see them go to someone who appreciates their intrinsic beauty as much as our mother did, and who will look after them.”
Chris Kirkham, associate director at Hansons London, said: “These are truly exquisite items, rich in detail and brimming with ancient symbolism. For example, a dragon is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology. They are a symbol of power, strength and good luck.
“Lot 1, an embroidered blue ground dragon robe, is the most significant piece. It’s unusual to have the two lower dragons looking down at their respective pearls. They usually look up. The Dragon’s Pearl is one of the best-known tales in Chinese folklore. What’s also unusual and rare about this robe is its wide band of breaking waves with bats and flowers, rather than multicoloured diagonal lines representing mountain peaks.
“We are anticipating strong interest in these ornate robes and rightly so. They are a rich part of China’s culture and heritage and I would expect to see strong competition from buyers from the Far East keen to repatriate them to their homeland.”
The Chinese robes are due to be sold by Hansons London on October 30, 2021. Catalogue: hansonslive.co.uk
To find our more, email Chris Kirkham: [email protected].
