A gorgeous pair of carved jade earrings designed in the form of an imperial handfan, studded beautifully with diamonds set in 18K gold.
Historically, fans have played an important aspect in Chinese culture, used for ceremonial and ritual purposes. They were also carriers of Chinese traditional arts and literature and were representative of its user's personal aesthetic sense and their social status, especially the imperial courts.
The jades originated in Myanmar and was hand carved in China. Although jadeite deposits are found throughout the world (Guatemala, Japan, Russia, and California), Burma remains the primary source of best jade, hidden in the mountains where geography, soil, and climate all come together to produce the finest. The sourcing of the Jade from Myanmar and carving it in China began in 1780’s with Emperor Qianlong, who extended China's jurisdiction into northern Burma, calling it the “Imperial Gem”. Jade was therefore used for the finest objects and cult figures and for grave furnishings for high-ranking members of the Imperial family.
This piece took approximately 2.5 months to finish, with over 9 craftsmen and designers involved at various stages.
Carved Jades: 6.09 g.
White Rose cut Diamonds: 0.71 ct.
18K Gold
Dimension: 3.34(L) x 3.34(W) x 1.02(D) cm.
Weight: 26 g.