These tribute silks were taken from the Forbidden Palace in Beijing.
Miss Black lived with her father,who was in charge of the Russian Royal Horses. She was able to persuade the eunuchs who were preparing the antiques in the Palace to be sent to Taiwan, as the last monarch Puyi was to be expelled from the Forbidden City.
As the Court eunuchs were wrapping the antiques in Imperial Tribute Silks, she asked if she supplied them with some strong brown paper, could she have the Imperial Tribute Silks. As a well liked child they were happy to give them to her in exchange for the wrapping paper.
In 1976 I went for tea at her home near Stanley Beach, she was now a very old lady. She had a handsome adopted Indian son dressed in white wearing a grand white headdress who did all the overseeing of her life. Her apartment overlooked Stanley beach and was decorated like Chinese Empress Rooms.
I had responded to an advert selling the textiles, so when offered the Imperial Tribute Silks I happily purchased them all.
Ming Red Silk Brocade, woven with longlife peach symbols, using real gold thread.
Exotic Green Silk Brocade, woven with clouds and dragons, using real gold thread.
Coral Silk Summer Gauze, woven with dragon rondels.
Sunset Pink Silk Summer Gauze, woven with a small pattern of longlife symbols.
Pale Gold Silk Summer Gauze, used for undergarments.
Ming Red Silk Brocade, woven with small longlife symbols, using real gold thread.
Qing Green Silk Brocade, woven with clouds and dragons, using real gold thread.
Imperial Yellow Silk Taffeta Brocade, woven with large dragon rondels.
Sky Ming Blue Silk Brocade, woven with multiple longlife symbols.
Exotic Green Taffeta Satin, woven with butterflies in various positions of flight.
