{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O198317"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O198317/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PU5215/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PU5215/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PU5215","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PU5219","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PU5218","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PU5217","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PU5216","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PP2343","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O198317/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O198317","accessionNumber":"T.195-1957","objectType":"Dragon robe","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Dragon robe for a man (<i>longpao</i>) of blue silk twill self-patterned with a supplementary weft (light yellow/cream floss silk) bound in twill (diasper weave with a 2/1 twill ground and the yellow silk pattern wefts bound in 3/1 twill.).\r\n\r\nThe pattern follows the traditional sequence of a dragon robe with a large front-facing dragon in the centre (on the back and on the front of the robe) curled around a sacred pearl. Beneath these are two dragons facing the centre each pursuing a sacred pearl. All the dragons are five-clawed. Scattered around the dragons are a few cloud bands and bats. \r\n\r\nBelow the dragons is the three-peaked mountain amid waves in which are a few miscellaneous symbols such as the sceptre and swastika. Below this is a very broad (16 inches (40.6 cm)) striped border representing deep water.\r\n\r\nThe robe is side-fastening (with five gilt buttons), and has slits at the front and back. It has long and tight sleeves with horse-hoof cuffs. There is no decoration on the forearms. On the neck border and cuffs are dragons, clouds and waves on a smaller scale than on the main body of the robe. Around the neck and halfway down the fastening on the right hand side is a border some 4 inches (10.2 cm) wide which is edged with black silk braid.\r\n\r\nThe robe is lined with plain weave mid blue hemp. \r\n\r\nThe quality of the silk is very inferior to that normally found on dragon robes; there are some very apparent weaving faults and it is rather coarsely woven. There is also a very modern (mechanically woven) and common black braid used in places as trim. The gilt buttons are unusually light.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk textile","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"hemp","id":"AAT14043"},{"text":"linen","id":"AAT14069"}],"techniques":[{"text":"twill weave","id":"x37297"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Self-patterned twill-weave silk; lined with hemp","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Men's clothes","id":"THES49043"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2026PU5215","2026PU5219","2026PU5218","2026PU5217","2026PU5216","2026PP2343"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES313113"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Robe","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1850-1900","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Miss C. Oldfield & Brigadier G. Oldfield","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"144","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"196","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"at widest","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"55","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"85","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions in inches are from the register, those in centimetres are from digital records.","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"According to information provided by the donors, the robe was presented by the Chinese Government to the government of Nepal in the second half of the 19th century. It was subsequently given to Major H. A. Oldfield, the donors’ grandfather, by Sir Jung Bahadur (Maharajah).\r\n\r\nThe dragon robe was made in China and reflects dragon motifs associated with Qing-period Chinese court and official dress (1644–1911). Its relatively modest quality of materials and workmanship does not necessarily indicate production outside China or for export to the West. The circumstances of its presentation to the government of Nepal suggest that it may have been produced as a diplomatic gift.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Dragon robe for a man, self-patterned twill-weave silk; lined with hemp, made in China, Qing dynasty, 1850-1900","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"According to information provided by the donors, the robe may have been woven elsewhere in East Asia, outside China. However, its design, construction and embroidery indicate that it was made in China, possibly at the Imperial Silk Manufactory in Nanjing. It may have been produced as a diplomatic gift.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"dragons","id":"x30096"},{"text":"clouds","id":"x30091"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.195-1957"],"accessionNumberNum":"195","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1957,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-10-19","recordCreationDate":"2009-03-05","availableToBook":true}}