Rare fragment of a weaving for a semiformal imperial court robe, the 5 clawed dragon suggesting it was intended for the emperor or empress. Gold brocaded silk with a central Long among clouds and two bats on a yellow ground. Qianlong period ca. 1750. Dim.: LxH 70x41 cm (fragment). Mounted and framed with glass (83x52cm) Condition: the shape suggests it has been used in Tibet as the top of a temple banner. There was a black silk trimming that had completely gone, the traces of which have been removed. Where the trimming covered the textile, the non-faded colours can be seen. The gold wrapped threads have lost almost all of the gold. Wear to the brocading, especially the dragons body. Fading to the colours. There's a robe in the Denver Art Museum (no.1977.190) with identical pattern, only here the dragon is 4 clawed on brown ground. The Denver-robe has been published in Orientations Februari 1993 in an article by Julie Segraves. See enlargement pictures.