CHINA - Circa 1900 Dark eggplant silk chaofu-type ceremonial dress decorated with polychrome and gold thread embroidery of five-clawed dragons in clouds, cranes with outstretched wings and auspicious objects above a band of lishui and sacred peaks. The lower part adorned with round medallions formed by dragons chasing the sacred pearl. Blue silk lining. Provenance: Collection of Doctor Maurice Fournials. Appointed in 1923 to the French occupation corps in China, he later became the guard physician at the French legation in Peking, then assistant physician to the President of the Chinese Republic.

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