Details
A RARE IMPERIAL MASSIVE GEM SET BELT BUCKLE
The very large sapphire and spinel cabochons set into a gilt copper frame, the dragon headed hook with a ferocious expression, and scaly head, the reverse engraved with the wufu around a shou medallion, probably early Qing, some dents
The very large sapphire and spinel cabochons set into a gilt copper frame, the dragon headed hook with a ferocious expression, and scaly head, the reverse engraved with the wufu around a shou medallion, probably early Qing, some dents
Further details
cf the very similar, and probably accompanying, belt buckle in the National Palace Museum Taipei, illustrated in the catalogue of the Exhibition of Qing Dynasty Costume Accessories and Jewellery P.
Although the example in the Palace Museum is not dated, the two buckles are likely to date from the early part of the Qing dynasty when the art of copper engraving was still relatively immature, showing a combination of crude detailing and tremendous vitality in design. Sapphires and red crystalline hardstone cabochons (both rubies and spinels fall under the Chinese term hong bao-red precious) were commonly used in Imperial jewellery in China since the Ming Dynasty, and this example, along with its fellow, were undoubtedly a continuation to that tradition
Although the example in the Palace Museum is not dated, the two buckles are likely to date from the early part of the Qing dynasty when the art of copper engraving was still relatively immature, showing a combination of crude detailing and tremendous vitality in design. Sapphires and red crystalline hardstone cabochons (both rubies and spinels fall under the Chinese term hong bao-red precious) were commonly used in Imperial jewellery in China since the Ming Dynasty, and this example, along with its fellow, were undoubtedly a continuation to that tradition