Private British auction house Bonhams is getting ready to auction off a robe that was once worn by the Qing Dynasty's (1644-1911) Qianlong Emperor on November 8.
Made from blue silk, the robe is decorated with gold and silver threads, nine dragons clutching pearls in their claws and 12 other auspicious symbols, which include a golden pheasant and the Chinese character for fortune. According to Bonhams, the emperor only wore the robe during formal occasions.
The robe was acquired by Brigadier-General Offley Bohun Stovin Fairless Shore (1863-1922), during a trip to Beijing with his wife in 1912. The robe was then passed down within the family. The estimated price for the robe is $128,000-192,000.
