A rare Imperial 'twelve symbol' blue silk dragon robe from the 19th century has been unearthed after a century of sitting untouched in a box in Buckinghamshire.
The intricate garment was exclusively designed for and worn just twice a year by the Chinese Emperor for ceremonies at the Temple of Heaven, which sits outside the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.
In the ownership of the noble Villiers family, the robe was purchased in 1913 in China by Eric Hyde Villiers during his work with Martell Cognac, intended as a gift for his father, Sir Francis Hyde Villiers.
Unveiled recently after being hidden in the back of a drawer, estimates for the robe reach up to £50,000.
On May 21, 2024, the garment will be presented at Dreweatts Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Sale.
The robe's stunning blue backdrop shines through the symbols of Imperial authority, expertly woven with three colour gold threads in the traditional Kesi technique, and nine Imperial five-clawed dragons clutching pearls of wisdom.
Mark Newstead, Specialist Consultant for Asian Ceramics and Works of Art at Dreweatts, said: "It is particularly auspicious to be selling it in the lunar year of the dragon."
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