When is a box not a box? ….. Answer: when it is seven bracelets and a lid. Another great example of the ingenuity of the Chinese artisan.
The bracelets are silver vermeil set with gemstones; serpentine, rock crystal, amethyst and carnelian with blue enamel leaves… two of the gemstone bracelets are attached to the box,,, the three jade bangles and two of the gemstone bangles move freely.
We loved this piece the moment we first saw it… but it has proved to be the most frustrating piece in the collection. A year after we bought it, an almost identical box sold at Skinner’s for $10,000.00 (US) but it had a matched pair of early carved white bangles.
So (of course) I began to search… after many frustrating years I gave up… I couldn’t find the right pair to fit the diameter the cylinder … but I still love the box!!
Visit PrivateCollection’s PictureBook to see additional photos… many in larger formats.
One Comment
I have the shorter version of this piece — 2 jade bracelets and 1 gemstone bracelet — but it is missing the thin silver bangles that you have. I have been looking for the last 30 years and was delighted to see yours. I love mine, too, even without those bangles. Thanks for sharing.