{"product_id":"kingfisher-feather-beads-in-silver-with-longitudinal-bands-of-turquoise-kingfisher-feathers-sold-individually","title":"Kingfisher Feather Beads in Silver with Longitudinal Bands of Turquoise Kingfisher Feathers, Sold Individually","description":"\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThese beads are priced and sold individually\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVery rare antique silver oval beads are marked with silver bands like pointy melons. Between these bands kingfisher feathers cover the bead from end to end. This style has by far the most kingfisher feathers and thus is also the most easily damaged, only 6 perfect beads. These are priced higher than the others for their rarity, but I am selling some with minimal damage at ASO-251.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe process is similar to the famous cloisonne techniques except that rather than enamel, kingfisher feathers were used.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhile other Chinese art forms gained fame worldwide, kingfisher jewelry was little known outside of China. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe technique, known as Tuia-tsui or Diancui, has been used on hairpins, headdresses, fans, and beads for over 1000 years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt involved collecting and carefully cutting tiny kingfisher feathers to the desired shapes and adhering them to the metal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKingfisher feather beads are even more rare than hair pins because they were made for a shorter period of time in the final days of this art form, which ended during the Chinese Communist Revolution. The last workshop specializing in Tian-tsui closed in 1933. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe beads are in stunning condition, having been preserved in a box with special compartments like a miniature egg carton, to hold each bead protected and separated from  others. They came to us with the inventory of a Washington DC Chinatown store when it closed around 2020. I'm delighted to finally offer them to you now.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvery serious bead collection should have at least one of these!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnd they can be made into jewelry. Admittedly fragile, I recommend only using them in earrings, where they are much less likely to be damaged by contact with coarse fabrics or harder substances.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Beadazzled.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67609989447989,"sku":"ASO-249","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0269\/4388\/1301\/files\/ASO-249aBeadazzled.com.jpg?v=1790887682","url":"https:\/\/www.beadazzled.com\/products\/kingfisher-feather-beads-in-silver-with-longitudinal-bands-of-turquoise-kingfisher-feathers-sold-individually","provider":"Beadazzled.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}