Pendant with quartz bead ‘Shī nán pèi’, Han and Yuan dynasties

Pendant composed of a large yellow quartz bead, carved in the shape of one of the eight auspicious treasures of the Han dynasty, known as 施南佩 (Shī nán pèi), a symbol of prosperity, status and protection. The stone is precisely cut with a polished surface, symmetrical shape and sharp contours. The bead hangs from a braided cord (added at a later date), on which is inserted a spherical gilt-bronze bead, decorated with filigree work and reliefs. This combination of elements from different periods reflects traditional practices of reassembly and re-signification in Chinese ritual and ornamental jewellery. Han (206 BC-220 AD) and Yuan (1271-1368) or later dynasties. 

Bead diameter: 9 mm; Pendant size: 40 x 27 mm; Total length: 37 cm

Total weight: 24.6 g