Comments on: Chinese Coral Enamel Kingfisher Set

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 06:27:40 +0000

Right-angle weave was used for both the coral tube and the buds, but it may or may not be done using needles. That would depend on the type of thread used. I do tubes like this for beaded bag handles but since the currently preferred “thread” for Chinese craftwork is fine fishing line, I do not require a needle. This should be what my teacher terms a triangular tube. A coarser version would be a square tube (4 beads in every row). The ready-made beaded items from China are threaded on either fishing line or coarse twisted thread. The older beaded items are usually threaded on thread or fine wire. This is a lovely set of jewellery. I wore kingfisher feather hairpins and earrings for my wedding and had to fend off curious fingers

By: Bennett McCardle

Bennett McCardle — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:57:01 +0000

I agree with Elif — it has got to be right-angle weave, and Valerie Hector would be one good authority. She may use the single-needle technique but I understand that is a relatively recent development and the two-needle system is more likely.

By: elif

elif — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:57:38 +0000

just FYI: the stitch used is almost certainly two-needle right-angle weave, rather than peyote stitch. i’ve had the good fortune to examine earrings similar to the ones you own; they were constructed with right-angle weave. the square/diamond arrangement of the beads doesn’t look like peyote stitch to me – peyote stitch is dense, while RAW is a more open stitch; all the beads are at right angles to each other (hence the name). Valerie Hector is an artist who has done extensive research on Chinese beadwork; you can find her website here: valeriehector.com. the majority of her recent work is constructed with some version of right-angle weave.