THREE CHINESE HAIR ORNAMENTS

QING DYNASTY

One mounted with a pale celadon jade phoenix in flight, flanked by jade and enamel dragons, another as a large flower, the petals in celadon and spinach-green jade surrounding a central kingfisher feather flowerhead, the third a pair of gilt metal and kingfisher feather openwork phoenix, a white glass cylindrical bead surmounted by a butterfly between them, 19cm max. (3)

Cf. Classics of the Forbidden City, Jewelry of the Empress and Imperial Concubines in the Collection of the Palace Museum, nos.91 and 92 for related flower hairpins.

Provenance: a private collection, London.