CIRCA: 1800 or before (center panel)
A six dragon Chinese-silk canopy from Tibet with gold and silver coloured embroidered threads, which was used for hanging over a seated Tibetan Buddhist lama or altar (see example photos lower row above). The center six dragon panel is surrounded by a boarder of red silk brocade with dragons and phoenix’s frolicking in clouds, and has a hanging fringe of green and purple silk. The size overall is 136cm x 109cm while the main center silk panel is 103cm x 74cm, and is backed by a plain blue cotton cloth. The center five clawed six dragon panel was made in China circa 1800, while the outer red brocade ‘frame’ and hanging green / purple fringe is from sometime in the early part of the 1900’s. There are some splits in the central textile that do not show in the above photos* and some colour run in the hanging green / purple fringe from the red brocade (having seemingly gotten wet at some time), but this is not on the dark blue center dragon panel.
*Close-up detailed photos upon request to the serious buyer.