A RARE TIGER'S-EYE AGATE AND JADEITE MANDARIN'S COURT NECKLACE, CHAO ZHU

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A RARE TIGER'S-EYE AGATE AND JADEITE MANDARIN'S COURT NECKLACE, CHAO ZHU
QING DYNASTY, 18TH/19TH CENTURY

Composed of a hundred and eight iridescent tiger's-eye agate beads, spaced by four large apple-green jadeite Buddha's head beads, the fota in a double-gourd shape suspending a flattened jadeite pendant and terminating in a jadeite dewdrop, further enhanced by three tassels strung with coral beads, each terminating in a jadeite drop pendant

Lot Essay

The necklace was an essential part of the Imperial court dress, indicating both rank and season, with different gemstones required for different occasions. It is very rare to find a necklace made with agate beads. Cf. court necklaces made from a variety of material, included in the Catalogue of the Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories, National Palace Museum, Taiwan, 1986, pls. 54-58.

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