A LARGE CHINESE EMBROIDERED `DRAGON` PANEL Qing Dynasty Elaborately embroidered with two opposing five-clawed dragons each couched with gilt-wrapped thread, flying through the air in pursuit of a pearl in the form of a large shou character, with soaring bats and polychrome lotus flowers blossoming from twisting leafy stems on a wan ground formed of blue and black thread, the lower portion of the textile decorated with large rolling waves crashing into a central mountain formation above a lishui border embellished with ruyi heads and the bajixiang , the left and right sides of the panel framed by vertical borders enclosing bats, shou characters and stylised lotus flowers, 171cm high, 298cm long Provenance : French private collection, acquired in the 1920s from the Duguet family collection 清 藍地金龍紋刺繡屏 來源： 法國私人收藏，於1920年代從 Duguet 家族舊藏購入。 Note: Impressive in size and masterfully woven with a plethora of motifs and details, this hanging would have likely been displayed in a ceremonial hall for a special occasion. The pair of five-clawed dragons, delicately couched with gilt-wrapped thread, are a defining symbol of imperial power. Usually depicted chasing a flaming pearl, this textile sees the powerful dragons contesting a large shou character, a symbol of longevity, and when combined with the flying fu bats and wan symbols adorning the background it conveys the rebus ‘may you live for ten thousand years’. A Qianlong-period kesi wall hanging, decorated with two confronting five-clawed dragons flanking a large shou character, was sold at Bonhams New Bond Street, Fine Chinese Art including Imperial and Court Textiles Curated by Linda Wrigglesworth, 2 nd November 2021, lot 227.