Auction Catalogue

6 September 2016

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Jewellery and Watches

Live Online Auction

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Lot

№ 291

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6 September 2016

Hammer Price:
£4,600

A Chinese gold filigree and carved hornbill panel bracelet, in ivory fitted box, late Qing dynasty, late 19th / early 20th century, the three graduated oval deeply carved pale hornbill panels depicting floral motifs, in burr detailed mounts, with shaped filigreework links between, each modelled as a phoenix, to filigreework clasp, the two outer panels modelled as coiled serpents, with stamped Chinese character marks to the clasp, (hornbill untested), in original fitted deep pink velvet lined ivory case with three carved cartouches to the lid depicting Chinese figural landscape scenes, bracelet length 18cm. £1500-2000

Hornbills are a family of large birds native to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. Many of the hornbill species have ‘casques’ (decorative growths on the upper mandible of its bill). In most cases, the casque has a spongy structure, but in the Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) , the casque is of solid keratin. The casques of the young male birds are yellowish or golden in colour, with the exterior stained bright red by an oily secretion from the bird. The casques were used to carve belt buckles, bracelets, combs, pendants, plumes holders for hats, snuff bottles, temple vases, etc, and have been known as ‘Golden jade’ and ‘Hornbill ivory’. After the middle of the 19th century, much of it was fashioned in Canton, chiefly for sale in the West.

Please note that both hornbill and ivory are covered by CITES legislation and may be subject to export and other trade restrictions.