QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

Details

A CORAL, KINGFISHER FEATHER AND PEARL-INSET GILT METAL TORQUE, LINGYUE
QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)
Its body is divided into six sections inset with coral divided by kingfisher feather and hardstone mounts, the terminals confronting spheres forming hinges attaching to the two pivoting front sections, the reverse chased with alternating panels enclosing flowers and butterflies and the Buddhist endless knot. The blue ribbons are hung with tourmaline and hardstone pendants and are mounted with double happiness characters, xi, worked in seed pearl and coral either side of coral beads carved with shou characters.

6 7/8 in. (17.3 cm.) diam.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Lot Essay

The jewelled torque, known as lingyue, was worn around the neck over the collar of a court robe and formed an important part of the formal attire of Qing dynasty noble women and members of the Imperial family. The wife of Emperor Qianlong, Empress Xiaoxianchun, for example, is depicted in her portrait with a gold lingyue inset with coral and pearls, illustrated in The Splendours of Royal Costume Qing Court Attire, Hong Kong, 2013, p. 21. A gold torque inset with eight segments of coral and pearls in the National Palace Museum is illustrated in Catalogue of the Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories, Taipei, 1986, no. 75. A silver example inlaid with six segments of coral, kingfisher and rubies in the Beijing Palace Museum is illustrated in Treasures of Imperial Court, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2004, pl. 143. Christie's Hong Kong sold a coral and pearl-inset gold torque, 28 May 2014, lot 3355.

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