Formal Court Robe Altered for Lamaist Ritual Dance

(Initially a 'ch'ao-fu' court robe; altered in Tibet for ritual Lamaist dances, large triangular panels and striped cuffs were added to the original tapered sleeves.) Court Robe of dark blue satin; in upper section, back and front, a shaped panel extending over shoulders with large four-clawed dragon in gold; clouds, bats, and Eternal Sea motif in shades of blue, green, yellow, rose and rust; at back and front waistline, where skirt of robe is seamed to upper section, a band of dragons and clouds in gold and colors; a wider band of the same borders the skirt all around ten inches from the bottom; collar band and border of gold and black floral brocade; standing collar of fuschia cotton; large wing-like sleeves made of black satin and strips of green, yellow and crimson satin brocade with an outer border of the black and gold floral brocade; canvas lining; note tailoring of this robe, with the wide skirt caught into stiff pleats over the hips, and the long, triangular sleeves; A.P.( Alfred Pillsbury) thinks a court robe remodelled for Lama Dances