A translucent greenish-white glass hairpin

19th century
Length: 12 1/8 in (30.8 cm)

A translucent greenish-white hairpin of flattened-ruler form, one end carved with a curling hook, the other end rounded, the color successfully imitating nephrite.

A very similar example is illustrated in Hui (2000), cat. no. 63, where the author explains that such hairpins were popular during the Qing dynasty and used with “loose pyramid-shaped hair styles of the Manchurian ladies.”

Provenance: acquired in Honk Kong in the early 1970’s

Published: Asiantiques, Chinese Qing Dynasty Glass Treasures: A Selection from the Gadient Collection (2009), cat. no. 40

(Hard cover catalogue, 64 glass artworks, 64 pp, full color illustrations, English text and Chinese captions. Catalogue available for purchase, $45 including domestic shipping, $55 international. The catalogue can also be viewed online in pdf format. Please contact us or visit our "exhibitions" page for more information.)

Ref. 862990

SOLD