- Provenance
- Provenance research underway.
- Description
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A band-shaped kingfisher-feather headdress ornament with floral and insect motifs, inlaid with pink quartz stones.
- Label
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This barrette-shaped bar would have been one of many similar ornaments secured to a headdress made of a metal framework covered by black gauze. The brilliant blue is the natural color of feathers from the kingfisher bird, which is native to some parts of China and other areas of Asia. These feathers were chosen to make jewelry because of their dazzling visual appeal.
- Published References
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- Beverley Jackson. Kingfisher Blue: Treasure of an Ancient Chinese Art. Berkeley and Toronto. .
- Scientific Research in the Field of Asian Art: Proceedings of the First Forbes Symposium at the Freer Gallery of Art. London. pp. 15-23, pl. 3.
- , Ellen Chase, Blythe McCarthy. The Textile Speciality Group Postprints: Papers Delivered at the Textile Subgroup Session, a Joint Session with the Objects Speciality Group Concerning Composite Objects. vol. 12 Washington, June 2002. pp. 45-55.
- Roland Hartman. Kingfisher Feather Jewelry. vol. 10, no. 3 Hong Kong, May - June 1980. pp. 75-81.
- Collection Area(s)
- Chinese Art
- Web Resources
- Whistler's Neighborhood
- Google Cultural Institute
- SI Usage Statement
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Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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International Image Interoperability Framework
FS-8163_12