Two turquoise glass hairpins
Song DynastyEach of double-pronged U-form, modelled from gold prototypes, the larger of translucent glass and the smaller opaque glass, fitted cases.15.5cm (6.1/8in) and 10.2cm (4in) long. (4).
注脚
Provenance: A Japanese Private Collection.Two-pronged hairpins of similar shape were popular accessories for court ladies in the Tang to Song Dynasties, often made of precious materials such as gold; a group was sold in our New York saleroom, Elegant Embellishments, Featuring the RenLu Collection, 21 Sep 2020, lots 331 and 352.Glass was a rare material in classical China, and it was therefore mostly reserved for use by members of the court; glass hairpins of the same colour and design as the present lot are illustrated by Qin, Mai, and Gao, Graces of Glassware, Treasures from the PT Collection, Hong Kong International Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 25.5.2019-28.5.2019, pp.60-61.