Child's dragon robe (longpao) for a prince, of embroidered silk gauze in coloured silks and gold and silver threads, China, mid 19th centuryChild's summer dragon robe (longpao) for a prince. Made of apricot-coloured gauze weave silk, embroidered in coloured silks in half crossed stitches, and gold and silver threads in couched work. Semi-formal wear (jifu) The right side fastens with five gilt buttons, with side slits and no front slit. Long and tight sleeves with horse hoof cuffs (matixiu). No lining.
The robe is embroidered with nine five-clawed dragons in gold and silver thread in couched work (three dragons on both the front and back, one on each sleeve and one on the under flap), each of which is pursuing the sacred pearl. The rest of the ground is embroidered with cloud forms and attributes of the Eight Daoist Immortals (fan, gourd), mainly in red, green and blue silks in half-crossed stitch. The neck and side opening is trimmed with a broad band of black gauze embroidered with dragons in gold and silver thread and coloured silks. The cuffs are similarly embroidered. Along the lower edge is a broad band of wave (lishui) and mountain forms.