Page 30 - 2020 September 21 Elegant Embellishment the RenLu Colelction, Bonham NYC

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A PAIR OF GILT SILVER AND RUBY EARRINGS, ERHUAN A PAIR OF GEMSTONE-INSET GOLD EARRINGS, ERHUAN
Ming/early Qing dynasty Ming dynasty
The pendant of each earring modeled as a single flower head with The lavish pendant of each earring modeled with two plum flower
a central ruby cabochon set within a roped collar surrounded by heads below a butterfly-shaped design to the front and reverse, and
realistically rendered flower petals housing granulated balls, the curving paired by intricate tubes enmeshed with thin wires, each flower head
flower stem issuing from behind served as the pin. and the butterfly adorned with a central ruby cabochon set within a
1/2in (1.3cm) diameter of pendant (2). high collar, the top surmounted with a long, elaborately curved pin
rising between a pair of flanking leaves.
US$2,000 - 3,000 1 1/2in (3.8cm) long excluding pin (2).

明/清初 鍍金銀嵌寶石花形耳環一對 US$5,000 - 7,000

For additional gold ‘flower head’ earrings with inlaid precious stones, 明 嵌寶石蝶趕梅花金耳環一對
refer to Adornment for the Body and Soul, Ancient Chinese Ornaments
from the Mengdiexuan Collection, Emma C. Bunker and Julia M. Long wire pins and elaborate, layered gold work with sumptuous
White with Jenny F. So (Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong precious stone inlays are characteristic of Ming dynasty jewelry and
Museum Society, 1999), p. 301, pl. 145， and The Art of the Chinese was a style favored by the Ming Imperial Family. Similar examples were
Goldsmith, The Cheng Xun Tang Collection (Hong Kong: Art Museum, found in the Mausoleum of Ding Ling according to Zhong Guo (Beijing:
Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University Hong Kong, 1989), pl. 126.
2007), Part II, pp. 462-463, no. G65.
The combination of a butterfly or a bee and flower blossoms on
Gold earrings with inset gemstone decoration are seen in both the gemstone-inlaid jewelry belongs to a distinctive motif common
Ming and Qing dynasties. But generally, the earring pins from the Qing during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, called feng die gan hua (bee
dynasty tend to be thinner and more delicate than the bolder and and butterfly chasing flowers). For more information related to this
thicker pins shown in the present pair of earrings. prototype, refer to Zhongguo Gudai Jinyin Shoushi by Yang Zhishui
(Beijing: Gugong, 2014), vol. 2, p612-614.

For detailed treatment and workmanship similar to the present pair
of earrings, compare a gemstone-inlaid gold hairpin illustrated in
The Golden China, Gold Artifacts of Ancient China, (Nanjing: Nanjing
Museum, 2013), p. 330, p. 333, and p.345.

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