Grandmother's Keepsake Revealed as Imperial Chinese Robe Worth Thousands

A collection of Chinese art amassed by Nan Brake, a British translator living in Beijing in the 1950s, is set for auction at Roseberys in London on May 12, 2025. The collection, valued at £40,000 ($54,100), includes a turquoise silk Imperial robe from the early 19th century, estimated at £8,000–£12,000 ($9,350–$14,000). The robe, likely made for a male member of the emperor's family, features nine five-clawed dragons and symbols of authority. Other highlights include a Ming dynasty painting of a man and horse (estimate £4,000–£6,000) and a Qing dynasty silk panel with templates for luxury accessory cases (estimate £2,000–£3,000). Brake's granddaughter Emma Davey said the family had no idea of the collection's value and used to dress up in the silks as children. The collection had been stored in a chest for four decades until an antiquities specialist recently appraised it. Brake acquired the pieces during excursions across Beijing, known as "junking trips," and shipped them to London by 1960. Notably, the collection lacks ceramics due to transport difficulties.