A CORAL AND LAPIS LAZULI COURT NECKLACE, CHAO ZHU  - 19TH CENTURY

Composed of one hundred and eight coral beads spaced by four slightly larger lapis lazuli jiezhu, 'connecting beads', the central jiezhu connected to a gourd shaped fotou, 'Buddha head', suspending the beiyun, 'back cloud', composing of a yellow ribbon divided by the oval jiepai, 'connecting plaque', and weighed down by a dew-shaped zhuijiao, 'suspending ends', the necklace is further enhanced by three strings of jinian, 'reminder', each composing of ten lapis beads and weighed down by dew-shaped blue, pink and green tourmaline pendants. Estimate:  £6,000 - £8,000 ($11,862 - $15,816

Note: The court necklace, chaozhu, was an integral element of Qing official dress. Linked to the Buddhist rosary, the necklace was composed of 108 beads in four sections of 27, separated by larger 'Buddha's head' beads, and hung with three strings and tape which hung down the back.

Christie's London. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART INCLUDING EXPORT ART. 13 May 2008