Emperor’s Robe From Qing Dynasty to Fetch Up to $191,000 at London Auction

A robe that allegedly belonged to one of the emperors of China’s Qing Dynasty is going up for auction in London, England.

The robe, which dates back to the Qianlong Emperor who ruled China from 1711 to 1799, is being estimated to fetch between £100,000 to £150,000 ($127,000 to $191,000) in the auction that is set to be held on Nov. 8, according to Bonhams.

It was acquired by British Brigadier-General Offley Bohun Stovin Fairless Shore during a visit to Beijing in 1912. The robe has been in a family heirloom ever since.

Bonhams described the robe as:

“The blue silk ground robe superbly embroidered with varying tones of gold and silver-wrapped threads with nine Imperial five-clawed dragons clutching or courting flaming pearls of wisdom interspersed with small petalled flowers arising from a scrolling foliage above rolling waves on the lishui. The Twelve Symbols of Imperial authority are arranged in three groups of four: the sun, moon, constellation and rock around the neck; the fu symbol, axe, paired dragons and golden pheasant around the body; the pair of temple cups, aquatic grass grains of millet and flames nestle on the froth of the waves. Deep blue and gold striped sleeve extensions extend the arm length and dark aubergine-grey silk bands decorate the collar and cuffs, edged with original buttons and brocade edgings, lined with yellow silk damask.”

The Qianlong Emperor, while he ruled during the height of the Qing Dynasty, also contributed its decline, according to Shanghaiist.

He led military campaigns across the country that expanded the dynastic territory by conquering, and worse destroying, Central Asian Kingdoms. However, in his late years, the Qing empire started to “decline with corruption as well as wastefulness in his court and a stagnating civil society.”

The Qianlong Emperor robe is only one of the many precious antiques that have been put up for auction in the west. In June, a vase belonging to the same time period in China was sold for 16.2 million euros ($19 million).

Featured Images via Bonhams

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