Page 47 - 2020 September 21 Elegant Embellishment the RenLu Colelction, Bonham NYC

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A PAIR OF GOLD ‘DOUBLE-GOURD’ EARRINGS, ERHUAN A GOLD BRACELET，QIANZHUO
Ming dynasty style Ming dynasty or later
The two rounded sections separated by a small, pearled ring at its The shank of the simple C-shaped bracelet gently widening toward
waist, and hammered into eight panels to the side walls, each framing two nail-form termini.
chased scrolling patterns, the base of the gourd decorated with a 3 3/16in (8.1cm) wide
cash design, the top capped by a lotus leaf with a long S-shaped stem
cleverly serving as the pin. US$8,000 - 12,000
3/4in (1.9cm) high excluding pin (2).
明或晚期 金鉗鐲一支
US$2,000 - 3,000

明式 葫蘆形金耳環一對

The double-gourd motif carries many important, auspicious meanings
in the Chinese culture including fertility, immortality, prosperity and high
social status. The image appears in many forms of art throughout the
Chinese history.

Yang Zhishui states in Zhongguo Gudai Jinyin Shoushi (Beijing:
Gugong, 2014) that the gourd-form earrings are a commonly seen
design during the Ming dynasty. Such design was developed from the
Yuan dynasty prototype (vol. 1, pp. 601-609).

Examples of related form are seen in Adornment for the Body and
Soul, Ancient Chinese Ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection,
Emma C. Bunker et. al. (Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong
Museum Society, 1999), pp. 282-283, pl. 124 & 125. Compare also
a pair of gold ‘double-gourd’ ear pendants from the Carl Kempe
Collection, sold at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, 11 April 2008, lot 2324,

潤廬品金 ELEGANT EMBELLISHMENTS | 45