THE CHINALAIS | A 50-YEAR COLLECTION Including Rarely Seen Masterpieces of Asian and Ethnographic Art, Textiles, Jewelry, Objects, Paintings (Copy)

A Li long bei with writhing dragons and a flaming pearl, from Hainan Island, South China. Unusually, the dragons and auspicious motifs fill the entire central field rather than being confined within the rectangular panel typical of most long bei—a feature that suggests an early example, possibly dating to the late Ming–early Qing transition. Among the most graphically compelling of all dragon covers, the design balances fine detail with bold, confident drawing, executed in silk embroidery across three separately woven cotton panels. Published in HALI Magazine, “Long Bei, Ceremonial Dragon Covers of the Li of Hainan” (2003). 4'0" × 6'3" (1.22 × 1.91 m)