{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O14542"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O14542/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GT3150/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GT3150/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GT3150","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014GV9205","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AX5174","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BE6184","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FE7949","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FE7995","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FE7997","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FE7999","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JT7107","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JT7062","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JT7211","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O14542/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O14542","accessionNumber":"T.197-1948","objectType":"Dragon robe","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Imperial robes worn by the emperor are often known as dragon robes partly because of the prominent dragon motif\r\n\r\nThis robe, made for an emperor, appears bright yellow, but it is entirely embroidered on blue silk. \r\n\r\nCertain shades of yellow were restricted for the exclusive use of the Emperor and his immediate family. Apart from the five-clawed dragon, the Emperor's robe would also most likely carry the twelve imperial insignia: symbols including flames, an axe, libation cups are subtly incorporated in the robe.","physicalDescription":"Twelve symbol dragon robe for a man, embroidered yellow and blue ground. Blue silk ground embroidered yellow silk of a design of endless swastikas. Scattered all-over this surface are cloud-forms and the twelve symbols. Five-clawed dragons back and front and on the shoulders. Sea, earth and rocks round lower edge, and sleeves. Fastening at the side, the skirt is slit for about 2 feet up the centre at front and back. Sleeves shaped. Cuffs embroidered with same design. Three-quarters of sleeve is of dark blue silk, having single stripes of gold thread embroidery. Round the cuffs and round the neck are bands of gold and black brocade.\r\nColours: blues, pink, green, white, yellow, red, brown and gold thread.\r\nStitches: mainly couched work and satin stitch\r\nLining: bright blue satin- new on body\r\nThe sleeves have a damask pattern of flower roundels. Sleeves have been altered, cut and rejoined.\r\n\r\nThe robe may indeed never have been worn by an emperor, and the robe seems to be rather carelessly tailored.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk textile","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"silk thread","id":"x30127"},{"text":"gold thread","id":"x30128"}],"techniques":[{"text":"weaving","id":"AAT53642"},{"text":"embroidering","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woven silk; embroidering in silk and gold threads","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Royalty","id":"THES48899"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"}],"styles":[{"text":"Tongzhi","id":"AAT18494"},{"text":"Qing","id":"AAT18478"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2013GT3150","2014GV9205","2006AX5174","2006BE6184","2012FE7949","2012FE7995","2012FE7997","2012FE7999","2017JT7107","2017JT7062","2017JT7211"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES313227"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dragon robe","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1862-1874","earliest":"1862-01-01","latest":"1874-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with Art Fund support","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"142.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"193","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Registered File number 1947/374. From the collection of Bernard Vuilleumier.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Dragon robe for a man, woven silk; embroidering in silk and gold threads, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Tongzhi period (1862-74)","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Vuilleumier pl. 1, Tsui book, no.86"}],"production":"The <i>shou</i> (longevity) character embroidered on this robe is seen in two other robes made for the Qianlong Emperor, in the Palace Museum's collection (Gugong Inv. Nos: 44885 and 42113)","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"dragon","id":"x30096"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.197-1948"],"accessionNumberNum":"197","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1948,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-17","recordCreationDate":"1999-12-15","availableToBook":false}}