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Kingfisher Feather Hair Ornament browse these categories for related items... All Items: Chinese: Jewelry: Kingfisher: Pre 1900: item #330357 Please refer to our stock #52-12 when inquiring.
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| 19th century Chinese jewelry made from bird feathers, an unusual concept in itself, is made even more unusual by the design subject of this piece. A man in a blue feather robe, perhaps a palace guard, stands in front of a pagoda created of feathers. His painted face is carved from a small oval white stone, and the figure stands about 1/4th inch out in front of the pagoda, creating a three dimensional scene. The bright blue feathers from a tiny kingfisher bird are affixed to a metal backing. Kingfisher feathers were used as decoration in China as early as the Han Dynasty. Many centuries later, the women of the court developed a taste for large headpieces of kingfisher feathers. Smaller hair ornaments such as this one made from the exotic feathers became fashionable outside the court during the 19th century. (For details of the history, design and craftsmanship of kingfisher feather jewelry, see the article "Kingfisher Feather Jewelry" by Roland Hartman, Arts of Asia magazine, May/June 1980.) This 19th century piece is in good condition. Such jewelry is primarily in the collectible/display category rather than wearable and should be handled with care to avoid damage to the feathers. Dimensions: height 5-1/2" (14 cm), width 1-3/4" (4 cm), depth 1/2" (2 cm). | ||||||
