Bringing Heaven to Earth: Silver Jewellery and Ornament in the Late Qing Dynasty (in English)
Synopsis "Bringing Heaven to Earth: Silver Jewellery and Ornament in the Late Qing Dynasty (in English)"
The prowess of Chinese creative abilities in the decorative arts in the 19th and early20th centuries was well known globally, but, while much has been written aboutChinese textiles and on the influence of the East on European styles of the time, thestory of the influence of Western formats and tastes on the manufacture of Chinesejewelry in the period has, amazingly, never been told. In examining 50 objects ofextraordinary quality from an important private North American collection, thisbook seeks to redress the situation and reveal the splendor of silver and silver-giltjewelry of the late Qing dynasty.An ancient and sophisticated culture, the Chinese who have since recordsbegun made up about a quarter of worlds population had almost everything theycould need or want within their own borders
except for silver. The metal hadlong cultural, commercial and governmental associations but had to be importedlargely from South America, after both national and Japanese reserves were quicklyexhausted by huge Chinese demand. Beginning in the mid 19th century wherethe story told here begins after two successive defeats in the Opium Wars,sixteen treaty ports were established on coastal and inland cities, enabling Westernmerchants freer movement and trade with the Chinese.The 50 pieces of jewelry and ornament presented here have been beautifullyphotographed and carefully documented. In superb unrestored condition, the objectsincorporate exotic materials like tiger-shark teeth, teak wood, amber, precious andsemiprecious stones from India and Sri Lanka, enamel, as well as finely carved andpierced nephrite, jadeite and lapis lazuli. Daoist imagery and motifs dominate butwith the inclusion of some surprising Buddhist imagery as well. Though not from theimperial collection of the Qing, these exquisite pieces were seemingly commissionedand worn by prosperous members of the society from all over the vast country. Thedifferences in manufacture, even in this varied sample of 50 items, is striking. Theirappeal is more than just aesthetic, and their design and decoration speak of thesocial, religious, economic and political climate of their time. Questions regardingthe sale and consumption of these object are discussed, and changing local andforeign tastes in the wake of the fall of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of theRepublican period are also addressed.
