Pepper-blower (me-tsubushi) of black lacquered wood decorated with maple leaves and with engraved brass mouthpiece, attached to it a cylindrical wooden netsuke and a brocade pouch containing a black lacquered flat bottle decorated with three puppies: Japan, 19th century

Thangka showing a Garuda figure with the head of Yamantaka, painted in bright colours on cloth with a brocade mount, framed and glazed: Tibet or Nepal, 19th century

Kaftan fragment, originally forming the back of a child's collarless and short sleeved garment, of silk brocade or kemca woven with a design of eight-pointed stars with central tulip motifs: Turkey, Ottoman, late 10th - early 11th centruy AH / late 16th - early 17th century AD

One of a pair of woman's shoes with leather soles and uppers of silk and silver brocade: English, probably 1730s

One of a pair of woman's shoes with leather soles and uppers of silk and silver brocade: English, probably 1730s

Helmet of white metal, heavily ornamented gilt brass, jewels, brocade, cane, fur, coral and feathers, part of the ceremonial costume of a military commander: China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century AD

Tunic of gold brocade, woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk and ornamented with brass studs and bordered with black velvet, in the centre back and front a medallion with a bat and clouds flanked by a pair of dragons, lined with pale blue silk, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840

One of two shoulder pieces of gold brocade, woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk, ornamented at top and bottom with overlapping brass plaques of dragon design, four tapes and three brass buckles, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840

One of two shoulder pieces of gold brocade, woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk, ornamented at top and bottom with overlapping brass plaques of dragon design, four tapes and three brass buckles, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840

One of two arm pieces of scalloped form, of gold brocade woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk, with two brass buttons for attachment to the tunic, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840

One of two arm pieces of scalloped form, of gold brocade woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk, with two brass buttons for attachment to the tunic, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840

One of two square pieces of gold brocade woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk, with two brass buttons for attachment to the tunic, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840

One of two square pieces of gold brocade woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk, with two brass buttons for attachment to the tunic, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840

Skirt, divided centrally, of gold brocade woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk, with medallions embroidered with dragon pursuing a pearl amid clouds and Mt Meru rising from the sea, with waistband of blue cotton, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840

Skirt front, fish-shaped, of gold brocade woven with an all-over pattern in blue silk, embroidered with dragon’s head, with four brass buttons for attachment to the skirt, part of the ceremonial armour of Zhang Chaofa, admiral and governor of the Zhoushan islands: China, 1830-1840