Splendid silver and silver jewelry art in Chinese history
Silverware and silver jewels were first made in China as early as 2,000 years ago. These dazzling, glittery silver items were ever very important in people’s life.
Silver hair clasps
In ancient China, both men and women had long hair reaching down to their waist. They usually coiled their hair up, and used a hair clasp to fasten the hair.
At first, jade or ivory was used to make a hair clasp which usually had colorful turquoise stones adorned on its end. Later people used silver to craft hair clasps.
A silver hair clasp sported exquisite designs of flowers, plants, and animals carved on its surface, which was a symbol of good luck and sent good wishes to people.
Silver hats
A Chinese Mongolian silver hat was crafted with silver threads and slices. The whole hat was embellished with pearls, gems, emeralds, or coral. About 200 years ago, it was thought to be the most stylish dowry the parents could get for their daughters.
Silver longevity locks
A longevity lock was a kind of neckband worn by children to wish for a happy and long life in ancient times. It originated from a colorful cloth band worn around the wrists to drive out an evil spirit. About 300 years ago, people started to use silver to craft a longevity lock that sported a chaplet with some silver danglers falling from it.
These danglers varied a lot in shape. Some were like a real lock, and others looked like butterflies. In the Chinese language, the pronunciation of the word of butterfly is the same as that of longevity.
Silver rings
Rings in Chinese literally mean “restraint on fingers.”In ancient times, rings were worn by a woman to indicate that she was not single but possessed by her husband.
Later this improper meaning slowly faded. A ring became a piece of unique silver jewelry popular with common women.
A Chinese silver ring is usually carved with designs of flowers, plants, and animals. Sometimes it’s decorated with lovely bells or gems.
Very rarely, a silver ring includes three, four, or even nine rings linked together. Wearing them on your fingers is quite spectacular.
To read more about Chinese silver jewelry, visit this site with some fantastic sterling silver jewelry!