A Kingfisher feather Headdress and Hairpins - China, Late Qing Dynasty

the headdress elaborately decorated around the top section with a phoenix flanked by crabs, the domed section with phoenix above female musicians, and further phoenix, butterflies, cicadas and finger citron, the lower section with two confronting dragons, inlaid with coral, jade, seed pearls and pearls, turquoise and hardstones all mounted on gilt copper and red textile; and three gilt copper hair pins, variously decorated with bats, birds, lobster and lotus, minor losses  headdress 23.6 cm. high(5) - Estimate: £2,500 - 3,500

Provenance: Acquired in 1987

Note: For a related silver-gilt wedding crown, see, A. Richter, The Jewellery of Southeast Asia, London, 2000, pl.322

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Bonhams. The Jacques Desenfans Collection, 10 Apr 2008. New Bond Street