Box of Vintage Glass & Stone Buttons

According to bead terminology a button is also a bead, hence this set of buttons is included in this bead blog.

Their vintage is about 70-100 plus years old, all originating in China. The buttons are of coral, glass, agate and stone. I am wondering what kind of garments would take such buttons ? An old style Qing jacket or a high neck cheongsam of the 1920s? Would the material be silk, chiffon or cotton ? I do wish there are more research material around for the study of such vintage buttons.

After writing the above I have been struck by the thought that these may not be buttons at all ! Perhaps they're pendants or hair ornaments. They may have dangled at the end of a hairpin. Well, a lot of collecting is about guessmate isnt't it ?? And until the day I find a picture of these button-like items in their original state of use, I won't be able to pinpoint their exact identity.

Mystery Jade Face

This mystery jade face was partly inspired by the Mystery Men Exhibition, a travelling exhibition on the Sanxindui Excavations on the lost bronze age civilization of China. I was so impressed by the fascinating faces and gold masks on Mystery Men's face that I came up with this mystery jade face and hope it looks just as mysterious !

As this picture was composed shortly after the dark days of my recent eye operations and so maybe I should name this piece , "Light of my Eyes" ! However Hans commented that the face looked a tad sad. On reflection, I have to agree that my post operation blues must have influenced it. And so perhaps it should really be called "Face of Depression"! Whatever... this face will be commemorative of that bleak time !

Well, after winning a small prize in the Mystery Men contest, along came a friend who said the title of this post should be Mystery Woman from Xinjiapo !
That's pretty appropriate and she makes a good companion to the Mystery Men !