DIA120mm, China
Jade huang is one of the six forms of jade used for the recruitment of the court, a little bit like the staff identification card of today. Each form and its different material would represent a different grade in the court. By the Shang dynasty, it is more of a decorative object worn over the chest as a pendant.
This necklace is made up of piece of a hetain jade (nephrite) huang, tied together in the fashion of the famous jade armor.
Dia130mm, China
The pendants of this necklace are called Yu Le Li and they are believed to be a cousin of the bracelet!
Many many years ago, Yu Le Li was a jade cylindrical tube used in the ritual ceremony for demon cleansing. As times goes by it was developed into the form of the bracelet and also as a waist pendant. The small pendant form is now used in this necklace.
Ceremonial Gong
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DIA130mm, China
The beautiful jade pendant has the theme of a carp swimming among the lotus, this theme is popular in Chinese painting. It is true that muddy lotus pool offer an ideal habitat for the carp fish and that it makes an interesting composition, the reason for this established theme lays in another reason. Like most Chinese decoration, it is an idea of blessing; the words lotus 蓮 (lian) and carp 鯉 (li) shares the same pronouncation with the words joined 連 (lian) and branches 理 (li). 連理 refers to two individual trees having their branches joined together (inosculation), a marriage, becoming one. A blessing for the marriage, an ideal X’mas present for the wife.
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DIA100mm, China
The pendent for this necklace is a jade head piece.
The idea of a headpiece comb developed very early in China; the word “beauty” 美 came from a goat 羊 hat over a dancing man 大 (a man 人 with his hands extended). The concept of head gear developed into a social etiquette, a complete system was formed for ranking of officials, classes and for different occasions. When a young noble male reaches the age of 20, there will be a crowning ceremony, signifying the change from a boy to a man.
Some head pieces are secured on the hair bundle rather than as worn as a hat and this pendant is one of them.
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DIA140mm, China
A combination of 3 different set of jade beads.
The inside chiain most transparant,
the middle of the form of a gourd,
the outer, the darkest and the most soild in form.
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DIA80xH420mm, China
This brush holder is in the form of a tree log, it is made with the stone is found outside of the mineral jade, the so called skin of jade. As the material and colour is completely different from the jade, part of the “jade skin” is sometimes used as an articulation for jade carvings. Here it is used on its own to resemble the bark of a tree.
Click here to see our other brush holders.
W120xL120mm, China
Calcite alabaster is known as commonly as the Han Jade as this type of white marble was used for fine architectural carving since the Han dynasty. This pair of alabaster plates would have been used as part of the utensils for serving tea outdoor. Carving on top of the plates are flowers of the 4 seasons; Narcissus, Lotus, Chrysanthemum, Plum Blossom.
On the other corners are verses taken from the draft letter from the calligrapher Yan Zhen Qing to corrupt general Guo Ying Yi in 764 AD. This draft letter is famous for the caoshu calligraphy and is learnt by younger calligraphers as the “争座位帖” (Zheng Zuo Wei Tie – The Struggle For a Seat). In this letter of criticism towards the general, the calligrapher concentrate more on his wording and thoughts rather than the calligraphy itself, however his emotion was naturally expressed in the strokes.
… 岂不以才为世出，功冠一时。挫思明跋扈之师，抗回纥无（？）之请，故得身凌烟之阁，名藏太室之庭，吁足畏也！然美则美矣，而终之始难。故曰：满而不溢，所以长守富也，高而不危，所以长守贵也，可不儆惧乎？！…
“故得身画凌烟之阁，名藏太室之廷”
Having a portrait at the hall of fame, the name recorded in palace
From the book of “Xiao Jing” (Classic of Filial Piety)
孝经 – “高而不危，所以长守贵也。
满而不溢，所以长守富也”
Dwelling on high but without peril, nobility can be preserved.
Being affluent but not wasteful, wealth can be preserved.
From the book of (Chinese Code of Success, a classic and not one of those self help book)
朱子治家格言 – “讀書志在聖賢，(非徒科第)；為官心存君國，(豈計身家)？”
To study with the aspiration to be a man of virtue (and not for official ranking).
An official ought to have the interests of the Emperor and the nation at heart (and not his own pocket).
DIA165mm, China
The pendent for this necklace is a jade head piece.
The idea of a head gear comb developed very early in China; the word “beauty” 美 came from a goat 羊 hat over a dancing man 大 (a man 人 with his hands extended). The concept of head gear developed into a social etiquette, a complete system was formed for ranking of officials, classes and for different occasions. When a young noble male reaches the age of 20, there will be a crowning ceremony, signifying the change from a boy to a man.
Some head pieces are secured on the hair bundle rather than as worn as a hat and this pendant is one of them.
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SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW
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This is a coral necklace, but dont they just look like red hot chilli?
DIA165mm, China
We have previous talked about the long life lockets as a blessing for the young, more detail can be found in the posts;
Silver Necklace, Kirin Boy Necklace, Happy Encounter Necklace, 13 Tai Bo Locket, Original Long Life Locket and others items such as Du Dou Embroidery, Clay Doll – A Fu.
This particular locket has been glazed with Beijing enamel, shao lan, a vitreous enamel process used typically for silver jewellery. The powder enamel was melted at 600c to set on the silverware, cooled and reeapplied for 4-5 times. Because of the low temperature firing, the different ingredient, the Beijing enamel is more transparent than the popular Cloisonne.
The technique was introduced from Europe in the late 17th century and like all novelty only restricted for court production. By late Qing dynasty silver items of Beijing Enamel can be found in silversmiths.
This necklace has a hand woven string, with the silver locket anchored with a jade carving tube dyed traditional technique. On the locket, there are two kirins on either side with the word of blessing – Fortune and Career
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Mountain Folkcraft 