CHINA, Qing dynasty, 19th century Kesi mandarin dress decorated with nine five-clawed dragons chasing pearls among clouds, bats and auspicious Buddhist and Taoist symbols on a blue background, above rocky peaks and tumultuous waves, and a wide band of multicolored lishui forming the bottom of the dress and the end of the short sleeves, the sleeves lengthened with dark blue silk and ending in a clog with one end repeating the motif. Restorations to armpits (stitched), fabric worn, distressed, unstitched in places. H. 144 cm - L. 207 cm LDM

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