Kingfisher Feather Beads, Round 25mm, Silver with Turquoise Feathers, Slight Flaws, Sold Individually
SKU: ASO-250
Sale price
$45.00
Shipping calculated at checkout
Only 3 in stock
Description
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These beads are priced and sold individually
- Very rare antique round silver beads 25mm diameter. Designs are outlined on the surface with wire, as in cloisonne, but instead of enamel kingfisher feathers fill the spaces.
- Peonies, symbols of wealth status and prosperity are the theme on these beads.
- Sadly these beads do have some small flaws, for example the small spots where silver is showing through the feathers in the bead on the right. The silver is also a bit tarnished, unlike the other kingfisher beads so I've reduced the price accordingly. Because the feathers are so fragile most usual polishing methods could not be used on these beads.
- The technique for making these beads, known as Tuia-tsui or Diancui, has been used on hairpins, headdresses, fans, and beads for over 1000 years.
- It involved collecting and carefully cutting tiny kingfisher feathers to the desired shapes and adhering them to the metal.
- Kingfisher 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.
- This is a rare chance to get one of these rare items for your collection.