Dragon Empress

MY DRAGON EMPRESS ADDICTION

the Original

in the late 1800's The Dragon Empress CIXI ruled China with a ruthlessness that would make any Dragon breathe harder. CIXI ruled for 48 years-Her modi operandi: CIXI held court from a red throne shaped like a dragon- hidden behind a silk screen. Her dictums concluded with “Hear and obey." ( I think my GranMa used to say that- In fact , she had a wonderful special Chinese frock I was allowed to wear when spending the night!)

THE PRETENDERS

Hollywood's Dragon Empress

Competing Dragons

photograph of Marlene Dietrich and Anna Mae Wong in Shanghai Express

John Galiano's Dragon Empress

Alexander McQueen's kinder gentler Dragon

from style.com


HEAR & OBEY HEAR & OBEY

DRAGON EMPRESS
by Clarence House

this Dragon is currently under wraps in a Guest Room -

love the scallop hem detail

another Dragon in the Library

Drew Barrymore's Dragon

photographs from Domino Magazine

Clarence House's Dragon Empress happens to be my favorite fabric. I have used it in my own home three times. This has to be a record. A wicked combination of Turquoise, Orange and Mustard exists- and I used that colorway on a little slipper chair in my White Oak House. That was my first Dragon Empress.



The club chair in the Pink, Green and Orange was in my bedroom there and now lives quietly after an intervention of slipper covers from old crochet work. It must be in SHOCK- but I know underneath all that old white lies the Dragon.

Lastly- I returned to the Dragon when trying to finish off a chair for the Library- the Empress said "Hear and Obey-" the perfect fabric - muted tones of toast, blue, turquoise and cat tongue pink.