Huge Old Chinese silver necklace, Qing
Huge antique Chinese pendant from XIX Century. The good quality of silver suggests that this pendant was probably made in early to mid-XIX century. There’s also still some gilding.
All beads are old, including silver beads, malachite, turquoises and coral, but the necklace was probably assembled after Cultural Revolution, as the chains and stones do not match.
The symbols on the pendant represent fertility or many descendants (pumpkins) and immortality (cicada) which may refer to passing the Civil Service exams. All these designs are finely embossed and etched.
Condition is excellent, only the malachite bead have a small chip.
Size of the pendant (without dangles) 11,5 x 9,5 cm.
Height with dangles: 17 cm
Length of chain: 86 cm
Length of the side chains (with a qilin): 18 cm (7,08 in)
Size of biggest coral beads: 12 mm
Malachite bead: 20 mm
Turquoise beads: 23 mm
Total weight: 335 gr.
