A LARGE KESI DARK BLUE-GROUND 'DRAGON' PANEL QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the rectangular panel boldly and finely decorated with a large central shou character flanked by two ferocious five-clawed gold dragons, all reserved against light-blue ruyi-head cloud scrolls on a dark-blue ground

This Kesi dragon panel is in good general condition but does have an area of repair 25cm x 6cm to the top of the head of the right dragon. There is a 58cm x 5cm horizontal area of fraying and loss above the right dragon. There is a 4cm x 3cm patch to the base of the right whisker of the right dragon. There is a 12cm x 2cm area of fraying and loss to the area to the right of the head of the dragon. There is also areas of fraying and creases to areas of the body of the same dragon. There is a 6.5cm x 4cm area of loss of material to the cloud scroll above the eyes of the left dragon. the piece would have been made of two panels and joined centrally. It has been rejoined but the design does not carry through in the centre as the right side of the bat's head is missing.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The five-clawed dragon symbolised the Emperor and was reserved for decorating imperial items such as ceramics and textiles, which suggests that the present panel may have been made for the court. Blue was the colour associated with the Temple of Heaven, which was positioned south of the palace and where the Emperor offered sacrifice at the winter solstice and also prayed for rain during the summer months.

The meticulously detailed yet ferociously presented dragons against a complex cloud ground of the present panel is a superb example of kesi embroidery. Kesi is a type of silk tapestry which entails the intricate hand-weaving of decorative designs and brocades, sacred iconography or calligraphy often employed for the production of imperial textiles. The style of the dragons is reminiscent of those that adorn eighteenth-century Imperial Court robes, as seen on one sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 10^th April 2006, lot 1540. Compare also a blue kesi robe from the Jiaqing period (1796-1820) decorated with dragons, shou characters and flaming pearls on a cloud ground sold at Christie's New York, 19^th March 2008, lot 10.