QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

Details

A RARE CORAL AND PEARL-INSET GOLD TORQUE, LINGYUE
QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)
Finely woven with gold wires, its body divided into six sections inset with coral divided by pearl beads, the terminals confronting spheres forming hinges attaching to the two pivoting front sections, each chased with feather motifs, suspending coral pendants.
7 1/8 in. (18 cm.) diam.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory, tortoiseshell and crocodile. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Lot Essay

The open-ended torque, known as lingyue, was worn around the neck over the collar of a court robe and formed an important part of the formal attire of Qing court ladies. The wife of Emperor Qianlong, Empress Xiaoxianchun, for example, is depicted in her portrait with a gold lingyue similarly inset with coral and pearls, illustrated in The Splendours of Royal Costume Qing Court Attire, Hong Kong, 2013, p. 21. Both Palace Museums have similar examples. A gold torque inset with eight segments of coral and pearls in the National Palace Museum is illustrated in Catalogue of the Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories, Taipei, 1986, no. 75. A silver example inlaid with six segments of coral, kingfisher and rubies in the Beijing Palace Museum is illustrated in Treasures of Imperial Court, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2004, pl. 143.

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