A silk 'kesi' section of a dragon robe. Ming dynasty

A silk 'kesi' section of a dragon robe. Ming dynasty

woven with small circular dragon roundels on a ground of stylized clouds, the large central foliate panel depicting a dragon amongst clouds with crested waves. length 42 1/2 in., 108 cm. Estimate 8,000—10,000 USD

NOTE: Compare a very similar section of a sleeve in the Spinks exhibition, Threads of Imagination: Central Asian and Chinese Silks from the 12th to the 19th Century, 1999, cat. no. 18.

Sotheby's. Chinese Works of Art. 17 Mar 09.New York www.sothebys.com Photo courtesy Sotheby's