A PAIR OF RARE IMPERIAL YELLOW SILK BROCADE CHAIR COVERS QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

woven with an intricate honeycomb lattice design incorporating interlocking ruyi-brackets and stylized geometric florets, enclosing four reserve panels, the first a rectangular panel of cranes flanking a mountain rising from the sea, the second a circular dragon roundel, the third a floral medallion radiating taotie masks and stylized scrolls, the fourth a pair of dragons flanking a mountain rising from the sea, all enclosed within a scrolling kuilong border (2)

Acquired in China during the Late Qing dynasty, and thence by descent.

Both chair covers with some light staining and minor pulls. One with a small burn mark on the right edge.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The intricate lattice ground design in the current lot was commonly used in Imperial textile commissions. A piece of silk brocade with a similar lattice design, dated to the Kangxi period, is illustrated in John E. Vollmer and Jacqueline Simcox, Emblems of Empire: Selections from the Mactaggart Art Collection, Edmonton, 2009, p. 151. A piece of fabric for a cushion cover, with a similar lattice design, also dated to the Kangxi period is illustrated in Wang Guanggao, Beauty of Tapestry and Embroidery, Taipei, 1995, p. 30, and a cushion cover with a similar design to the third decorative panel on the present lot, dated to the Qianlong period is illustrated ibid., p. 31.