Qing Dynasty Emperor's Robe

Did they happen to say which of the 12 it belonged to, might be easier to identify. It would be hard to sell or value as an actual emperors garment without provenance. If you think it is real then you need to contact an auction house like Christi's because it would be worth a lot of money. On the original robes the gold-colored thread on the robe's embroidery was not just gold-colored, it was gold. The ancients would wrap beaten gold leaf around a silk thread core. They couldn't sew such intricate thread through the robe; they had to lay it out on the robe, then fix it with tiny invisible catch stitches. Found this: A dragon robe is either yellow or apricot-yellow in color. A bright yellow was reserved for the emperor, but for occasions such as ceremonies performed at the Altar of Heaven, the requisite color was blue embroidered with nine yellow dragons.The dragon robe that was passed down from one emperor to another is embroidered with a dragon on the front and the back, before or behind the knees,on the shoulders,and on the lining of the chest.Thus a total of nine dragons are embroidered on a dragon robe.Observed from the front or behind it,five dragons could be seen at a glance,because in Chinese tradition the figures nine and five tallied with the dignity of the throne.

It is not an "Emperor's Robe" as it was not worn (or made for) an Emperor. It is better described as a Dragon Robe and was worn by the likes of higher ranking mandarins. The robe's "value" is typically around $750 to $2000 at auction, although you might get $3000+ on eBay. It looks shortened so this is an issue for serious collectors (and will also affect the value). Go to your library and check out "Chinese Dragon Robes" by "Valery M. Garrett" to get an brief intro on these types of robes or more factual info from "China's Dragon Robes" by "Schuyler Cammann". You might find from reading these books that the symbolism of the distinct patterns embroidered on your robe is rather interesting - you will see the (assumed nine) dragons, clouds, bats, mountains and water, together with cranes, Taoist icons and long life characters. It definitely is late Qing, as characterised by the aniline (purple) dyes. You should gain more immediate knowledge from learning about your robe rather than pursuing its value or saleability prospects. Store it appropriately and enjoy it whilst you can!

I have an almost identical robe which I bought at an estate sale.  Unfortunately, it is in dire need of restoration between the shoulders in the back. Do you know of a reputable restorer? I have been advised by a Chinese textile expert not to attempt the restoration myself. I would very much like to get it into a condition where I can hang it.

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