Kesi Dragon Robe, Qing Style
For higher-value objects, we encourage inquiries prior to purchase.
Additional photographs, close-up views, and condition details are available upon request, whenever possible.
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Collection
Textiles & Costume
Period
Qing Style
Overview
A finely woven kesi dragon robe on an imperial-yellow ground, distinguished by its circular dragon roundels, richly patterned sleeve bands, and formal courtly presence.
Description
This kesi-woven robe is presented in the style of Qing court dress and is notable for its commanding yellow ground, broad expansive cut, and carefully organized decorative scheme. The garment is adorned with large circular dragon medallions distributed across the body, each enclosing a front-facing dragon amid cloud scrolls and auspicious ornament. The measured placement of these roundels gives the robe a strong sense of symmetry and ceremonial order.
Particularly striking is the treatment of the lower section, where a richly woven border of waves, rocks, and rising forms extends across the hem in a continuous band. Above this, scrolling decorative motifs animate the surface and create a visual transition between the body roundels and the striped skirt border below. The sleeve cuffs are also elaborately ornamented, reinforcing the coherence of the design and adding visual density at the outer edges of the garment.
Works of this type are especially admired for the union of textile technique and courtly symbolism. Here, the fine kesi weaving allows for crisp articulation of the dragons, cloud forms, and border patterns, while the restrained yet luminous palette enhances the robe’s stately character. The result is a textile of strong display value, appreciated for its scale, decorative richness, and association with the visual language of formal Qing dress.
Details
Object Type: Robe / Dragon Robe
Material: Kesi-woven silk
Ground Color: Imperial yellow
Decoration: Dragon roundels, cloud motifs, wave-and-rock hem border, patterned sleeve bands
Height: 141 cm
Width: 184 cm
Origin: China
Condition
Overall in good display condition, with expected wear, minor aging, and textile-related irregularities consistent with age and use. Areas of surface wear, slight fading, small losses, or restoration may be present and are in keeping with historic textiles of this type.
Authenticity & Attribution Note
This robe is offered as a work in Qing style. The attribution is based on textile technique, form, decorative vocabulary, and comparative visual judgment, and should be understood as stylistic rather than as an absolute guarantee of dynastic rank, court use, or exact period.
We are happy to provide additional photographs, closer views, and condition details whenever possible. Serious inquiries are always welcome.