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)

Provenance: a private collection, London.

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.