Today, Lorna MacGregor and Charlotte Canby of Bonhams Showroom Lot 45 are hosting an auction of beautiful Asian fabrics including traditional Japanese kimonos - like the one above, made from fine, brightly coloured silk. The garment is worn by unmarried women in Japan and most commonly associated with the Japanese Geisha. They are estimated to cost between £500-700.
Asha Edwards, who is an Asian Art specialist, goes into detail about a Chinese robe from the late Qing Imperial Court, around the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
She describes the Mandarin Square Badge on it, which would be one of the distinguishing features of class and rank in the court, and would signify who would bow to who, and how close they would be to the Emperor.
This robe would be worn by a low ranking military official.
“It is unusual that these survive because after the communists took over, it was considered politically insensitive to promote your family’s prior history to the Qing dynasty and military so they were often destroyed.”
The sale will also include stunning ornaments, artwork, and pottery from the continent.
The auction starts today at 11 at Bonhams, 22 Queen Street, EH2 1JX
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