Lot 3364. A rare pink and green tourmaline rosary bracelet, shou chuan, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century; 11 1/4 in. (28.8 cm.) long. Estimate 150,000 - HKD 180,000. Price realised HKD 325,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014.  

The bracelet comprises eighteen dark green tourmaline beads, evenly divided by a larger pink tourmaline bead and a double-gourd bead suspending an irregularly-shaped toggle and finally terminating in two smaller pebbles, box.

Note: Apart from tourmaline, rosaries were made of a variety of precious and treasured materials, such as jade and jadeite, lapis lazuli, coral, ruby, turquoise and fragrant wood. Comparable examples may be found in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Qingdai Fushi Zhanlan Tulu, Qing Dynasty Costume Accessories, 1986, nos. 65-71. Compare also the tourmaline and aquamarine rosary sold at Christie's Hong Kong, The Imperial Sale, 30 April 2000, lot 626.