Two Chinese silk embroidered dragon textiles, likely made from robes, Qing Dynasty. Both depicting a facing five-claw dragon over two flanking five-claw dragons in couched metallic gold threadwork amidst polychrome satin stitched motifs including clouds, bats, peonies, fire, and conch among others. On yellow gold ground, all above waves, mountains, rocks, with lishui stripe border. Surrounded by possibly later added silk embroidered blue and gold floral borders over black ground, and upper panels including five-claw dragons in couched metallic gold threadwork and polychrome stitchwork above waves, mountains and rocks. Each 70 x 56 inches. Provenance: From the Estate of Margaret Orr Childs; first purchased in Asia by Ambassador George W. Guthrie, and thence by descent through the family. Guthrie was appointed United States Ambassador to Japan on May 20, 1913. He was accredited as special Ambassador and represented the President and the people of the United States at the funeral of Empress Shoken, the Dowager Empress of Japan, on April 7, 1914, and was the personal representative of President Wilson at the coronation of Emperor Taisho of Japan on September 30, 1915. He died while at that post in Tokyo in 1917, after collapsing while playing golf with an American reporter. The Japanese government sent the armored cruiser Azuma to return his body to San Francisco as a mark of respect.

Both in overall good condition, apart from a minor amount of loose threads, some possible repair work, 2 light stains to the upper left of one, one light stain to the upper right of the other. Merchandise will be packed and transported by the purchaser at their own risk and expense. A list of recommended shippers is on our website: https://www.conceptgallery.com/auctions/shipping/ .