AN IMPERIAL RUBY-RED GROUND ‘BLOSSOMING PRUNUS’ KESI ROBE, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY

Expert’s note:
Plum blossoms on a ruby-red ground is an Imperial decor type that is extremely rare, highly coveted, and already found on important objects dating from the late Kangxi reign, and of course the Yongzheng period (see literature comparison below). There are no notable comparisons found for the present robe, a fact that leads us to the conclusion that this is likely a rather early example, dating from the 18th century.

Finely worked with innumerable floral heads and buds picked out in shades of salmon, green, and white against a red ground, interspersed with butterflies in various hues, the sleeves, collar, and hem in light blue piping. To the side and sleeves, ten fabric loops to secure the robe. Further to the sides, several molded beads in imitation of jade with green lacquer coating and stylized shou characters in high relief.


Provenance
: An important American collection of Chinese robes, and thence by descent within the family.

Condition
: Excellent condition with only little wear, very minor stains, and a few loose threads.

Dimensions: Length 136 cm, Width 160 cm (across sleeves)


Literature comparison:

Compare the closely related composition and theme of the robe to an imperial famille-rose enameled copper and gold 'blossoming prunus' snuff bottle, from the celebrated collection of Mary and George Bloch, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 28 November 2011, lot 166. Described as one of the most spectacular and intriguing of all Kangxi palace snuff bottles, the bottle is not only striking for its continuous design as opposed to panels of decoration surrounded by formalized floral designs, but also its ruby-red ground, similar to our robe. Also compare the precise renderings of bold branches of plum blossoms in various stages of blooming to an imperial Qing court snuff bottle in the Palace Museum collection. Finally compare a Yongzheng bowl decorated with plum blossom on a ruby ground at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2016, Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, lot 3218.




十八世紀寶石紅地緙絲梅花紋緙絲常服


寶石紅地，各色桃花與花蕾，點綴著各色蝴蝶，袖子、領子和下擺採用淺藍色滾邊。 側面和袖子上有十個織物環來固定長袍。 側面還有幾顆仿玉模製珠子，塗有綠漆，並帶有高浮雕風格的壽字。


專家注釋：
紅地梅花是一種極其罕見、備受推崇的宮廷裝飾類型。早在康熙晚期，當然還有雍正時期的重要器物上就已經發現了（參見下面的文獻比較）。目前的長袍沒有發現顯著的比較，這一事實使我們得出這樣的結論：這可能是一個相當早期的例子，可以追溯到十八世紀。


來源：
美國一位中國長袍鑑賞家和收藏家的私人收藏，在同一家族保存至今。

品相：
狀況極佳，只有很少的磨損、非常輕微的污漬和一些鬆動的線頭。

尺寸：長136 厘米, 寬160 厘米 (兩袖之間)


文獻比較：


比較非常相近的銅鍍金胎畫琺瑯紫地白梅圖鼻煙壺，Mary and George Bloch收藏，售於香港邦瀚斯，2011年11月28日，lot 166。該鼻煙壺被譽為康熙宮廷鼻煙壺中最壯觀、最耐人尋味的鼻煙壺之一，其引人注目的不僅在於其連續的設計，而不是被造型花卉圖案包圍的裝飾板，而且其底色為寶石紅色，類似於我們的鼻煙壺。比較梅花開枝鼻煙壺，收藏於故宮博物院藏清宮鼻煙壺。比較一件寶石紅地梅花紋雍正款，見香港佳士得，2016年11月30日，《Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art》，lot 3218