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A group of 19 gold and silver hairpins, Ming to Qing dynasty…
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Sydney
Date:
8-Aug-2021
Lot No.
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Description:
A group of 19 gold and silver hairpins, Ming to Qing dynasty varying sizes from 7.7 cm to 17.5 cm long (19). The group of four pointy-legged hairpins with small decorative tops are called huatou zan, or the flower-head hairpin. They were popular during the Song and Yuan dynasties, and a plethora of new designs emerged during the Ming dynasty. Their tops are typically made of gold, connected to silver legs, such as the two pieces from this group. More elaborate examples included pearl or precious stone insets, comparable to two from this group. To compare two similar excavated pieces with almost identical designs to the two silver-legged examples, see Yang Zhishui, Gold and Silver Jewellery in Ancient China, Volume 2, Palace Museum Publishing, China, 2018, pp. 417-18 for similar hairpins to the 'flower and pearl' pin in this group, see Christie's, Masterpieces of Early Chinese Gold and Silver, New York, 12 September 2019, sale 18338, lot 578 and lot 579. The 'shuttle'-shaped hairpin in the lot is of one of the most unique designs primarily produced during the Qing dynasty, and is named bian zan, or flat hairpin. It is used to pin through a chignon, displaying both of its terminals, hence the sharp ends and the narrow waist. For similar pieces, see Yang, ibid., pp. 798-99. For similar examples to the 'gourd' pins, see the British Museum, London, Museum number 1938,0524.273
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Oriental: Zother