Lot Essay
US$1,000-1,500
The Property of
A GENTLEMAN
AN IMPERIAL TORTOISESHELL "ABSTINENCE" PENDANT
Details
AN IMPERIAL TORTOISESHELL "ABSTINENCE" PENDANT
The rectangular plaque of translucent golden brown and yellow material, well carved in low relief on both sides with stylised clouds and dragons, enclosing a cartouche between shou medallions inscribed with the Chinese characters zhai jie (abstinence) on one side, translated into Manchurian script on the reverse, 18th century
Measuring 87.0 x 65.2 x 3.3 mm
In the Qing court, royal consorts were required to wear "abstinence" pendants, to indicate that they were fasting during periods of ritual impurity. These were made out of a variety of different materials but their function is always clearly indicated by inscriptions in both Chinese and Manchurian
For the few existing abstinence pendants in a public collection of National Palace Museum, Cataloque of The Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories, pp. 234, 242 and 244
The rectangular plaque of translucent golden brown and yellow material, well carved in low relief on both sides with stylised clouds and dragons, enclosing a cartouche between shou medallions inscribed with the Chinese characters zhai jie (abstinence) on one side, translated into Manchurian script on the reverse, 18th century
Measuring 87.0 x 65.2 x 3.3 mm
In the Qing court, royal consorts were required to wear "abstinence" pendants, to indicate that they were fasting during periods of ritual impurity. These were made out of a variety of different materials but their function is always clearly indicated by inscriptions in both Chinese and Manchurian
For the few existing abstinence pendants in a public collection of National Palace Museum, Cataloque of The Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories, pp. 234, 242 and 244