细节
** AN EXQUISITE PAIR OF ANTIQUE GOLD AND GEM-SET HAIRPINS
Comprising a hairpin with a dragon head finial, the horned head very finely crafted with bulging eyes, flared snout and jaw agape to reveal its teeth, and a matching hairpin with a phoenix head finial, the bird with delicate wirework feathers and beak open to suspend a line of seed pearls spaced by a gold bead and a carved coral basket, terminating in a ruby drop with foliate cap inlaid with kingfisher feathers, both finials enhanced by a ruby surmount and a tapered openwork shaft, Qing dynasty, 12.5 cm. ruby to dragon head finial a later
replacement (pendant not illustrated)
For a similar dragon hairpin with the original Imperial accession labels dating to the 31st year of the Qianlong period (1767), see the "Catalogue of the Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories", National Palace Museum, Taibei, 1986, p. 185. (2)