Inspired by the elaborate necklaces of the Xizhou dynasty,(1046-771 BC) I have come up with my own modest strand using beads and pendants from early periods of China's civilization.
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| Mostly Shang - Zhou beads and pendants |
Patina, toolmarks and carving style on these beads and pendants (silkworms, phoenix, turtle shell, disc etc) point tentatively to Shang - Xizhou period (1600-771 BC) and later.
The strand is made up of a trapezoidal jade bead, 2 silkworms, a spherical carved bead, a bead of turtle shell carving, two bamboo shape tube beads and a pair of cicadas interspersed with small carnelian disc beads.
Details of the components given below.
The strand is made up of a trapezoidal jade bead, 2 silkworms, a spherical carved bead, a bead of turtle shell carving, two bamboo shape tube beads and a pair of cicadas interspersed with small carnelian disc beads.
Details of the components given below.
Picture below shows beads with three different shapes. From left spherical bead with c-shaped motifs (1.4cm), flat turtle shell bead (1.5 x 1cm) and a trapezoidal bead with phoenix carving (2 x 1.5cm at the base)
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| Bead shapes are spherical, flat and trapezoidal |
Next is a pair of silkworm pendants the left worm is 3 cm and right is 2.8 cm. |
| Pair of silkworms |
A pair of slender bamboo shaped tubes with left tube measuring 2.0cm x 0.5cm and right 2.3cm x 0.5 cm |
| Left tube is 2cmx0.5cm right tube is 2.3cm x0.5cm |
Pair of cicadas measures approximately 1.5cm x 1.2cm and likely to be later than Xizhou period.
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| Pair of cicadas |
The carnelian disc beads used as spacers are the hallmarks of many Xizhou necklaces.
The carnelian disc beads used as spacers are the hallmarks of many Xizhou necklaces.
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| Small discs measures approx. 1 cm across |
These red discs also add a touch of color to the otherwise somber hues of my string.
These red discs also add a touch of color to the otherwise somber hues of my string.
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| Rosy carnelian beads add a touch of color |
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