Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ audience gasps after expert revealed the value of an elderly couple’s 1750 robe (marketrealist.com)
A 275-Year-Old Dragon Robe Appraised at Over $270,000 on Antiques Roadshow
An elderly couple received a shock on “Antiques Roadshow” when their 1750s Chinese robe, previously used as a dressing-up costume, was appraised for a staggering $273,000. The robe, brought to the UK from Calcutta, India in the 1930s by the woman’s grandfather, turned out to be a rare piece of Qing dynasty history.
Appraiser Lee Young identified the garment as a lady’s robe, likely worn by someone of high rank, such as an Empress, Dowager Empress, or high-ranking concubine, due to its bright yellow color. The robe’s age and condition are remarkable, with Young stating that similar examples exist only in the Palace Museum in Beijing.
He pointed out key features, including the five-clawed gilded dragon motif, the dragons chasing flaming pearls and flame scrolls, and crashing waves at the bottom. The robe’s interior features a rich red brocade. While the robe shows some signs of alteration, such as being shortened and some oxidation of the copper wire in the dragon embroidery, these factors did little to diminish its impressive value.
The audience gasped when the appraisal figure was revealed. The robe’s owner, Sarah, who admitted to wearing the robe as a child, was stunned into silence before declaring, “Well, we won’t put it in the dressing-up box again!” Young added that the robe could potentially fetch even more at auction.