A RARE BEJEWELLED KINGFISHER-FEATHER EMBELLISHED IMPERIAL COURT LADY'S HEADDRESS, QI TOU

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A RARE BEJEWELLED KINGFISHER-FEATHER EMBELLISHED IMPERIAL COURT LADY'S HEADDRESS, QI TOU
LATE 19TH CENTURY

The domed central section and two flat outstretched wings formed by an internal metal-wire frame, the surface bound in stiffened black silk elaborately wrapped over a rectangular hair pin, bianfang, the front adorned with fine appliqués formed by coral, jadeite, nephrite, tourmaline and rose quartz to depict a butterfly fluttering over flower blooms on one side, and balanced on the other side by a similarly designed dragonfly, the leaves formed by delicately inlaid kingfisher-feathers, fastened by six detachable floral-headed hairpins (some losses to embellishments replaced)
17 1/4 in. (43.7 cm.) wide

Lot Essay

A smaller Qi tou was sold in these Rooms, 26 April 1998, lot 532.
Compare an embellished white jade bianfang, used to hold the headdress in place, offered in the present sale, lot 591.

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