Page 33 - 2020 September 21 Elegant Embellishment the RenLu Colelction, Bonham NYC

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A CRYSTAL AND GOLD BEAD NECKLACE
The crystal： Liao dynasty or later
The bead crystals carved as flattened ovals, melon shape，or fish-
form set between hollow gold beads of various sizes linked to a
cylindrical neck piece, wrapped gilt wire chain for suspension.
14 5/8in (37cm) long
US$10,000 - 15,000

水晶金珠項鏈一條
水晶：遼或晚期

Emma Bunker cites in Adornment for the Body and Soul: Ancient
Chinese Ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection (Hong Kong:
The Univ. Museum and Art Gallery, 1999), that a Liao example of a
rock crystal necklace with amber plaques found intact at Yemaotai (p.
155 and 163).

Another Liao necklace with tubular gold spacers and rock crystal
beads was sold at Sotheby’s London, 10 November 2010, lot 161.
A set of rock crystal belt fittings dated Jin/Liao was sold at Christie’s
London, 18 June 2002, lot 83. They noted there that ‘rock crystal and
agate were among the most popular materials chosen as adornments
by the Liao aristocracy, and often carved as ornaments or belt
plaques.’

Compare also a gold and crystal necklace from the Ch. Deydier
Collection, dated to the Liao dynasty, illustrated in Ancient Chinese
Gold (Paris: ARHIS, 2001), Han Wei & Christian Deydier, p. 191,
pl.481.

潤廬品金 ELEGANT EMBELLISHMENTS | 31