Crown, Northern Song dynasty or Liao dynasty, 10th-11th century (bronze with gilding & repoussé decor), Chinese School / Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri, USA / Funds given by Edith Spink in memory of her husband, C. C. Johnson Spink / The Bridgeman Art Library. © copyright 1972-2013 Bridgeman Art Library Limited

Liao dynasty gold crowns with dragon and phoenix imagery to denote the male and female wearers, respectively. Photo courtesy TK Asian Antiquities.

This exquisite pair of Liao dynasty gold crowns utilizes dragon and phoenix imagery to denote the male and female wearers, respectively. Powerful imagery of facing dragons, reaching for a flaming Yin-Yang pearl, express the strength, majesty and leadership required of the wearer of the male crown. Dragons also grace the two side panels, while the back displays the Yin and Yang symbol, again surrounded by flames. The openwork background is composed of strong scrolling vines with thick stems and narrow pointed leaves, a pattern which is repeated on the incised lower band. The top of the crown is adorned with four slender flanges of gold sheet, reaching upward to surround a large openwork sphere of intertwined floral scrolls, topped by a flower in full bloom. The phoenix imagery of the mate to the dragon crown is associated with the female. Openwork arches form the background for the birds and various Daoist images, such as a Yin Yang symbol, surrounded by fire in the fashion of the flaming pearl of wisdom. The spherical finial and the decorative patterns on the back sheet of the crown match those on the male crown of this pair, clearly identifying them as a set.

Crown, Liao dynasty with phoenix imagery as the mate to the dragon associated with the female figure. Photo courtesy TK Asian Antiquities.

Crown, Liao dynasty with dragon imagery associated with the male figure. Photo courtesy TK Asian Antiquities.

Crown, Liao dynasty, 1018 or earlier. From the tomb of the Princess of Chen and Xiao. Shaoju Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Inner Mongolia

Coife en argent doré d'une princesse du royaume de Chen, dynastie des Liao (916-1125)

Parure funéraire masculine. Premier quart du XIIe siècle, dynastie des Liao (907 – 1125) Mongolie Intérieure ou Liaoning. Métal doré. H : 24.1cm L : 21.5cm (Masque), H : 23.7cm L : 28.3cm (Coiffe). Musée Cernuschi, M.C. 2001-8(Masque), M.C. 2001-9(Coiffe).

Parure funéraire féminine. Bronze et argent dorés, H : 23cm L : 21.1cm (Masque), H : 30.3cm L : 24.4cm (Coiffe à ailettes). Chine septentrionale Mongolie intérieure?) 1er quart du XIIe siècle. Dynastie Liao (907 – 1125). Musée Cernuschi, M.C. 2001-8 - M.C.2001-9. Dons de M. et Mme. Agnès et Christian Deydier 2001

Burial mask,Liao dynasty, 1018 or earlier. From the tomb of the Princess of Chen and Xiao Shaoju. Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Inner Mongolia

Headdress Ornament, 10th century-11th century, Liao dynasty, 907-1125. 

Ornament from a Crown, Liao dynasty (907–1125), Gold. H. 2 3/8 (6 cm); W. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm) © 2000–2013 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Gilded-silver hairpin in the shape of a phoenix, Liao dynasty. Cultural Relics Store of Chifeng City

A Pair of Gold Phoenix Earrings Liao Dynasty 12th Century A pair of gold earrings in the form of a phoenix. Sold. www.ollemans.com

Pair of earrings,Liao dynasty, 1018 or earlier. From the tomb of the Princess of Chen and Xiao Shaoju

Two amber bead necklaces, Liao dynasty, 1018 or earlier. From the tomb of the Princess of Chen and Xiao Shaoju. Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Inner Mongolia

Belt set with dragon design, Liao dynasty, 1018 or earlier. From the tomb of the Princess of Chen and Xiao Shaoju; Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Inner Mongolia

Gold Accents the Polished Chalcedony Perfumer, Liao/Five Dynasties (907-1125 CE). Gold and chalcedony. Photo courtesy TK Asian Antiquities.

Intricately carved with patterns of foliage and flying birds, the translucent stone displays an alluring shift of color from soft white to rich amber-brown with a spot of vibrant orange. This array transitions smoothly, without the banding typical of agate, one of the more common forms of chalcedony. Gold sheet, adorned with feather patterns, trims the edges of the stone. A decorative hinge at the bottom permits the perfumer to be opened, while thin gold wire is inserted at the top to hold the container securely closed around its precious scented contents. Suspended from a loop-in-loop chain, such perfumers could be worn on a belt, serving both their obvious practical function, and speaking of the wealthy status of the wearer.

Pair of boots, Liao dynasty, 1018 or earlier. From the tomb of the Princess of Chen and Xiao Shaoju. Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Inner Mongolia