The necklace composed of one hundred and eight amber beads, divided by four fotou (Buddha's head) beads of opaque jadeites of apple green colour, suffused with bright emerald green patches and veins, the fotou at the back connected to a gourd-shaped fotouta (Buddha's head stupa), suspending a jadeite beiyun (back cloud) of similar colour, terminated by another jadeite, the three jinnian strands of coral beads each further suspending a similar jadeite drop, mounted in metal, length approximately 1240mm. Jadeite beads measuring approximately 19.90 to 19.86mm; plaques approximately 36.78 x 30.82 x 6.69 to 18.37 x 12.77 x 5.74mm. This lot contains jadeite or rubies originating in Burma (also known as Myanmar) and also articles of jewellery containing such gemstones may not be imported into the U.S. With respect to items containing any other types of gemstones originating in Burma (e.g. sapphires), such items may be imported into the U.S. provided that the gemstones were mounted or incorporated into articles of jewellery outside of Burma as long as the setting is not of a temporary nature. Loose gemstones of any type originating in Burma may not be imported into the U.S. In this regard, purchaser’s inability to import any item into the U.S. or any other country as a result of these or other restrictions shall not justify a cancellation of the sale or any delay in payment.
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AMBER COURT NECKLACE Court necklace, or named as ceremonial necklace, were part of the officials’ court costumes in Qing dynasty. The length extends from the neck up to the lower abdominal region in front. The design of the necklace is linked to the Buddhist rosary, comprising “Buddha head” beads (known as “fotou”), accessory strands known as “jinian”, a circular plaque “back cloud” known as beiyun, and eggplant-shaped drops suspended at the end. Consisted of 108 beads, court necklace represents the 24 solar terms in a year in Chinese lunisolar calendars. The fotou represent the four seasons. The fotou and back cloud that suspend at the back symbolize the beginning of a new year whilst the three jinian strands mean the three sections of a month that sum up 30 days. In Buddhism, the 108 vexations in the ten spiritual realms that can only be eradicated by spiritual cultivation, through which both body and mind attain a state of stillness. Ceremonial court necklaces were designed with a variety of precious materials and colors to suit different types of occasions the emperor had to attend. Lapis Lazuli is used for the necklace worn in Heaven ceremony. The necklace is made of amber for Earth ceremony while it is made of coral and turquoise for the Altar of the Sun and Moon respectively. The colour of the amber court beads resembles the land and harvest. On account of that, the emperor would wear a golden yellow court robe and an amber ceremonial necklace to pray for plentiful harvest and peaceful stability. Court beads were part of the officials’ court costumes in Qing dynasty. Only officials ranked level four or above were allowed to possess or wear court necklaces. There were strict rules on the style and materials of the necklace, making it very rare for a court necklace to inherit from the past. This season, Tiancheng International offers a string of exceptional amber court necklace from Qing Dynasty. Of enchanting clarity and alluring red, the court beads are connected with jadeite fotou, foutouta (Buddha head stupa) and a back cloud extending from a gourd-shaped fotou. Rich in historical and cultural value, this necklace is an impressive imperial treasure.