Page 91 - Chiense Silver and Gold, 2012, J.J. Lally, New York

43. F our Cut Gold F oliate Hair Ornaments
Liao – Northern Song Dynasty, A.D. 10th–12th Century

two gold pins each with two tiers of slender pointed petals chisel-cut from gold sheet, radiating
from a central spherical boss raised on a ring of coiled wire and flanked by clusters of leaves lightly
incised with veins, soldered onto the flat pin at the back; the third pin decorated with a small bloom
with two tiers of six rounded petals with incised details and with tiny knobbed stamens rising
from the disc-shaped center, flanked by radiating leaves with serrated edges, soldered onto a flat-
shafted pin at the back; the fourth pin decorated with a chrysanthemum-like bloom with three tiers
of petals, flanked by four tapering leaves with serrated edges, and with three small buds rising on
coiled gold wire stems, soldered onto a thin gold wire pin.

Length 3 ⁄8 to 4 inches (7.9 to 10.1 cm)
1
Compare the group of similar gold foliate hairpins in the form of stylized flowers, attributed to the Liao dynasty, illustrated
by White, Bunker, and Chen in the catalogue of exhibition, Adornment for Eternity: Status and Rank in Chinese Ornament,
Denver, 1994, p. 163, no. 76.
A group of similar gold hairpins is illustrated in a line drawing by Zhu in Liao dai jinyinqi (Liao Dynasty Gold and Silver),
Beijing, 1998, p. 173, no. 115. Compare also the group of gold foliate hairpins of this type in the Muwen Tang Collection, 43
illustrated by Kwan in Chinese Gold Ornaments, Hong Kong, 2003, pp. 496–497, attributed to the Ming dynasty.
遼 — 北宋 花形金髮飾四件 長 7.9 至 10.1 厘米

44. A P air Of Cut Gold F oliate Hair Ornaments
Liao – Northern Song Dynasty, A.D. 10th–12th Century
each with a large flowerhead terminal with two tiers of rounded petals cut from gold sheet centered
by a spherical boss raised on a ring of coiled wire, the outer border of the flower made up of six
openwork petals formed by notched loops of twisted wire, alternating with pointed serrated leaves
incised with veins, all soldered onto a gold disc and a flat pin.

Length 3 ⁄4 and 3 ⁄8 inches (9.6 and 9.2 cm)
3
5
See footnote to catalogue no. 43
遼 — 北宋 花形金髮飾一對 長 9.6 與 9.2 厘米

45. A P air of Cut Gold F oliate Hair Ornaments
Liao – Northern Song Dynasty, A.D. 10th–12th Century
44
each decorated with a large flowerhead with four tiers of pointed petals cut from gold sheet and
centered by a spherical boss raised on a ring of coiled wire, surrounded by four long leaves with
notched edges radiating in four directions, all soldered onto a gold disc and a flat pin.

Length 3 ⁄8 and 3 ⁄2 inches (9.3 and 9 cm)
1
5
See footnote to catalogue no. 43
45
遼 — 北宋 花形金髮飾一對 長 9.3 與 9 厘米