Details
A MAGNIFICENT JADEITE BAR BROOCH
The long semi-cylindrical section of excellent translucency and an even vivid green tone, simply set within a gold mount, the sides engraved wtih stylised elaves, and the reverse pierced with a pattern of intersecting coins, the jadeite converted from a Qing dynasty ling guan (feather holder), and the mount circa 1920
length 53.2 mm, width 12.2 mm, thickness between 5 - 7mm
With certificate GL11099 from the Hong Kong Gems Laboratory stating that the jadeite is natural colour and no polymer is detected
The long semi-cylindrical section of excellent translucency and an even vivid green tone, simply set within a gold mount, the sides engraved wtih stylised elaves, and the reverse pierced with a pattern of intersecting coins, the jadeite converted from a Qing dynasty ling guan (feather holder), and the mount circa 1920
length 53.2 mm, width 12.2 mm, thickness between 5 - 7mm
With certificate GL11099 from the Hong Kong Gems Laboratory stating that the jadeite is natural colour and no polymer is detected
Further details
The rubular ling guan or feather holder was used at the base of the hat finial to secure a spray of feather plumes on the court hat, which together with the court necklace, formed essential accessories for formal dress in the quing court. However unlike the finial and the feathers whose material was specified according to rank, the feather holder was executed in a number of materials including porcelain according to the personal tastes of the user. From the middle of the 19th century, jadeite became a popular material for ling guan and the Manchu aristocracy vied with each other in using to best gen material for the production of these objects. However few fine quality pieces survive because the fall of the Qing dynasty meant that these jadeite feather holders were recut into smaller pieces in order to be reset into jewellery.
The jadeite ling guan section offered suffered this fate around 80 years ago but remains an extraordinary jewel, the extracted portion of a vivid green tone throughout and almost ideal translucency. Simply set to let the beauty of the stone speak for itself, the eccentric shape with one side thicker than the other is a remnant of its former life as a symbol of wealth and taste above a mandarin's head
cf a complete but partially green and less translucent jadeite feather holder in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated, No 31, p.111, Cat. of the Exhibition of Qing Dynasty Costume Accessories, and a complete court hat with a red jade feather holder in the Royal Engineers Museum is illustrated as pl 96, p.114, in Dickinson, G., and Wriggleworth L., Imperial Wardrobe
The jadeite ling guan section offered suffered this fate around 80 years ago but remains an extraordinary jewel, the extracted portion of a vivid green tone throughout and almost ideal translucency. Simply set to let the beauty of the stone speak for itself, the eccentric shape with one side thicker than the other is a remnant of its former life as a symbol of wealth and taste above a mandarin's head
cf a complete but partially green and less translucent jadeite feather holder in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated, No 31, p.111, Cat. of the Exhibition of Qing Dynasty Costume Accessories, and a complete court hat with a red jade feather holder in the Royal Engineers Museum is illustrated as pl 96, p.114, in Dickinson, G., and Wriggleworth L., Imperial Wardrobe