Chinese Silver Wedding Necklace

This early 20th century silver wedding necklace represents a transitional period (c.1900-1930) in Chinese jewelry. This necklace shows a western influence ...multiple linked plaques with a box tongue clasp...a change in style from the silver ornaments of the Qing Dynasty such as the Qilin necklace I wrote about earlier this year.

The workmanship is lovely...but lighter and more delicate than most 18th & 19th century Chinese works...two layers of silver in each panel...the front repoussé ...the back plain with both layers pierced to create a lacy affect.

It is marked on the clasp: SILVER CHINA NO23...a mark similar to the mark on the Qilin bracelet but without the initials...which suggests that #23 is the name of the workshop.

The symbols remain uniquely Chinese. Guan Yin is at the center and on either side of her is a figure holding  a pair of fish, symbolizing abundance and harmony. The charm below the Guan Yin is a pomegranate, a symbol of fertility because it is full of seeds...another popular wedding gift ...so we can assume this necklace was a marriage gift for a bride.

 

Guan Yin is only one of the many names and spellings for the feminine goddess of mercy revered throughout China and other Asian countries for thousands of years... she does not usually appear in any of the export jewelry made for the west... it is nice to see that she has made the transition to the 20th century!

Visit PrivateCollection's PictureBook to see additional photos... many in larger formats.

Chinese Enamel Jade Cicada Ring

This early 20th century ring features dark red and blue enamel...bats and Shou symbols with an earlier carved pale celadon jade cicada... which at one time may have been a pendent ...is lovely... and more.

The cicada, an insect symbolic of transformation, immortality and resurrection, has been carved in jade for thousands of years of Chinese history. There are over 2000 varieties of cicada, an insect with wide eyes on the sides of its head. They are found throughout the world, benign to animals and plants...they bury themselves in the earth, some for 17 years and then return to the surface and shed their skin.

 

This life pattern explains why the cicada is associated with rebirth... a jade cicada was sometimes placed in the mouth of the deceased. The cicada in China is similar to the scarab beetle in Ancient Egypt... where stones carved in the form of the beetle were placed on the chest of the deceased before burial.

Yesterday, I was wearing this ring and a jewelry dealer grabbed my hand and said "that's stunning!" ... and he was right!

Visit PrivateCollection's PictureBook to see additional photos... many in larger formats.

New Gallery Listings

We are pleased to announce new items have been added to the Listings Gallery. Please feel free to browse around and contact us if you have any questions!

Chinese Silver Enamel Eight Immortals Bracelet

c.1900, Rare. Eight curved and hinged panels enameled with the Eight Immortals. Unusual technique...solid back with open work repoussé top panels with areas of the un-enameled back exposed. Signed: SOLID SILVER. Length: 18.2cm. Width: 3.3cm.