AN IMPERIAL YELLOW KESI PANEL DEPICTING AN AZURE DRAGON, QINGLONG, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. Finely woven with a sinuous five-clawed qinglong in flight amid lingzhi clouds and above turbulent waves, surrounded by five bats, all delicately woven in shades of blue, green, brown, violet and red on a rich yellow ground.

Provenance: US trade.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor old wear, minimal soiling and few loose threads.

Dimensions: Size 139 x 66 cm

The Azure Dragon, also known as Qinglong, is one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations, which are the astral representations of the Wufang Shangdi. It represents the east and the spring season. An early depiction of the azure dragon can be found on the sarcophagus of Wang Hui, dated to the Han dynasty. The azure dragon was also chosen as emblem for the national flag and banners of the Qing. It became the first national flag of China and is usually referred to as the 'Yellow Dragon Flag'.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Remotely related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 9 November 2012, lot 8189
Price: USD 7,320 or approx. EUR 9,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A polychrome woven silk kesi fragment, Qing Dynasty
Expert remarks: Compare the related setting of clouds, bats, and crashing waves. Note the peacock feather weaving and smaller size (74 x 63.5 cm).


清代乾隆御用黃地緙絲五爪雲龍
中國, 1644-1912年。一條雄健的五爪青龍騰飛於如意祥雲之中，洶湧波濤之上，五隻蝙蝠圍繞。色彩濃鬱的黃色地，用藍色、綠色、棕色、紫色和紅色的色調精美製作。

來源：英國古玩交易市場。
品相：品相極佳，有輕微磨損、髒污和鬆線。

尺寸：139 x 66 厘米

青龍，又名蒼龍，在中國傳統文化中是四象之一、天之四靈之一，根據五行學說，它是代表東方的靈獸，為青色的龍，代表的季節是春季。早在漢代，青龍就曾出現在墓室壁畫之中。清廷曾廣汎使用黃龍旗，即黃地五爪青龍。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：稍微相近
拍賣：舊金山邦瀚斯， 2012年11月9日，lot 8189
價格：USD 7,320（相當於今日 EUR 9,000）
描述：約1780-1820年藍地緙絲趕珠龍紋掛屏
專家評論：比較相近的祥雲、蝙蝠和波浪。請注意孔雀羽毛的編織和較小的尺寸 (74 x 63.5 厘米)。