An exceptionally large and rare Imperial yellow-ground embroidered silk 'dragon' panelQianlongThe massive panel with an impressive central gilt-couched front-facing five-clawed dragon clutching a flaming pearl, flanked by two side-facing dragons amongst further flaming pearls interspersed amidst colourful ruyi cloud scrolls and above crashing waves. 364cm (143 2/8in) long x 239cm (94cm) wide.注脚清乾隆 禦制黃地彩繡趕珠龍紋掛屏Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth, London來源：英國倫敦古董商，Linda WrigglesworthSuperbly woven and impressive in its exceptionally large size, this magnificent brocade is a splendid testament to the scale and opulence of the Qianlong court. This panel was probably the central part of a very large imperial hanging which functioned either as a backdrop or curtain in one of the ceremonial halls within the Forbidden City. The complete panel would have likely consisted of nine writhing dragons interspersed within a celestial landscape of clouds, mountain and waves. Capable of flying high in the sky and diving back in the sea, dragons were regarded in China as intermediaries between Heaven and Earth and empowered with extraordinary powers that compared with those of the emperors. In conjunction with the flaming pearl, the dragon formed the visual metaphor of the good ruler who behaved wisely for the well being of his subjects. A closely related Imperial yellow-ground 'dragon' panel, mid-18th century, featured as the central part of a massive curtain hanging, is illustrated by R.Jacobsen, Imperial Silks: Chi'ing Dynasty Textiles In The Minneapolis Institute Of Arts, Minneapolis, 2002, pp.956-957, cat.no.474.