A RARE GOLD FILIGREE HAIR ORNAMENT

MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

Details

A RARE GOLD FILIGREE HAIR ORNAMENT
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
Made to cover a topknot and in the shape of a domed oval with parallel 'ribs' of twisted and plain fine gold wire interrupted by a horizontal band of florets across the top, with flower sprigs in the corners and applied with two flower heads with recesses for inlay, with flared openwork projections in front, to the sides and in back where two 'ribbons' extend from the rim, all filled with foliate filigree; with two gold hair pins that are inserted in either end at the bottom of the band of florets
4¾ in. (12 cm.) wide, 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) deep, box
Wt. 97.9 g. (3)

Provenance

A.W. Bahr Collection, Weybridge, England.
Edna Bahr, Connecticut, late 1960s.

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Lot Essay

Gold hair ornaments of this type, meant to be used as a cap for a man's topknot, appear to be quite rare. An excavated example with hardstone inlay, dated to the Ming dynasty, is illustrated in Zhongguo Wenwu Jingjin Daquan - Jin Yin Yu Shi Juan, Hong Kong, 1994, p. 149, no. 174. Another, also dated to the Ming dynasty, is illustrated by Emma C. Bunker and Julia M. White et al., Adornment for the Body and Soul: Ancient Chinese Ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection, The University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1999, no. 138.

A Technical Examination Report is available upon request.

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