A very shabby, huge 19th century Japanese dragon embroidery

I love this panel, the edges are really worn; the silk is in tatters but for the most part, the central dragon embroidery is in fairly good condition. In the subtlest colours, aged over time, the dragon is so full of character. His face seems almost human. It measures about 7 feet long by about 2 feet wide. Despite the damage, it displays beautifully, I hang it over an old tapestry screen to cover the damage on that, the colours blend magically.

I like to look at him in my studio; at the moment he is a powerful reminder to me of the strength of the Japanese people to eventually recover from the terrible natural catastrophe they are suffering and enduring at the moment.