A VERY RARE CARVED FRUIT STONE COURT NECKLACE

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A VERY RARE CARVED FRUIT STONE COURT NECKLACE

The long necklace made up of one hundred and eight fruit stones, each carved with a different luohan in openwork, divided at sections by four large spherical turquoise fotou beads carved with an inter-locking ribbon pattern, suspending at intervals three short ji nian strands of similarly carved coral beads each suspending a carved jadeite droplet, the string of fruit stone beads are joined at the two ends by textile straps, a further strap loops through a jadeite 'eternal knot' plaque and terminates with a tourmaline pear-shaped pendant carved with coiling dragons, 18th century (five fruit stone beads missing)

Necklace length 158.0 cm.


Lot Essay

For an almost identical necklace comprising of one-hundred and eight fruit stone beads in the National Palace Museum, Taibei, see Qingdai Fushi Zhanlan Tulu, Qing Dynasty Costume Accessories, p. 130, no. 56.

Necklaces of this type were made from a variety of materials; each necklace comprises a set number of beads strung together at intervals with fotou beads and suspending additional three strands known as ji nian. These were worn in front of court attire or ceremonial costumes by nobles, officials and ladies of rank at the Qing court. The straps which ties the two ends together forms an extra extension which is worn suspending down the back of the neck.

US$3,200-3,900

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