Category Archives: Chinese Jewelry

Once in a while we find a piece that I consider ‘really rare’… this amethyst and white jade necklace is my new favorite. [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt ] What makes a piece rare? This is original 19th century Chinese knotting… and an unusual combination of amethyst and [...]

May the Year of the Dragon bring you health and prosperity!

We spend a lot of time admiring the elaborate carving achieved by the early 18th and 19th century Chinese artisans trained from childhood to carve gemstones. So, this bracelet was a surprise when we found it… just three huge pieces of tourmaline in a simple silver setting that reminds me of the work of the [...]

Every collector searches for some of the rare pieces that have seen in auction catalogs or reference books… pieces they would love to own… I have been searching for this 19th century white jade bangle for 6 or 7 years … and finally found it. [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP [...]

Most of us… myself included, are used to thinking of  "Chinese Export Silver" as the pieces that were sold to Western markets in Europe and North America in the 18th and 19th century. [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt ] But this pair of heavy (200 g.) high grade [...]

“The Emperor’s Beads” … these are the only beads that have ever made me cry … I bought them online four  years ago… and when I opened the package I found out that Customs had opened the box – unwrapped the beads and had broken 21 beads… I was so upset that I put the [...]

The Chinese love of the jade stone has a long and well known history… but the story of these carved lapis beads is not as well known. [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt ] During the Qing Dynasty only members of the Imperial family were entitled to use pearls, [...]

As part of this series on beads, I want to spend some time talking about quality… what makes one bead more valuable than another … here is an example using the Jade stone… [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt ] “The Chinese have venerated and worn jade for over [...]