Coloured enamel bead, Warring States Period

Coloured enamel bead, Warring States Period

A spherical bead of vitreous paste with enamel layers decorated with shapes that seem to emulate eyes, in dark blue and white. The quality is excellent, although the patina produced by the passage of time has covered part of the decoration and worn away the relief. The upper part is pierced by a vertical hole.

This type of coloured enamel, known as "琉璃" (Liúlí) in Chinese and "coloured polish" in English.  It is the ancient Chinese name for a type of gemstone and ancient jewellery found in ancient tombs.

The main component of the surface enamel was lead-barium glass, and it cannot be used to make everyday utensils because of toxicity. In ancient China, the materials were obtained from by-products produced during the casting of bronze vessels, which were refined and processed. The form was introduced via the Silk Road and was collected by many wealthy and distinguished families.   

Coloured enamel is one of the five precious materials of China (gold, silver, jade, coloured enamel, ceramics and bronze) and one of the "Seven Treasures of Buddhism". It is a spiritual object that can remove diseases and ward off evil spirits. Many colours were used, more than thirty, among them (white, sky blue, sapphire blue, peacock blue, chicken fat yellow...) and the ancients also called it "five-coloured stone". Because they were difficult to obtain, the stones were considered more precious than jade. 

It is essential to observe in this piece the magnificence of the deposited history, which travels through time and space, preserving its indelible colour and representing a contained wealth. In June 2008, the Chinese "State Council" and "Ministry of Culture" selected this technique among other "national intangible cultural products". Warring Kingdoms Period ( 403 - 222 BC).

Size: 2.3 x 2.3 cm; Weight: 20 gr.

Provenance: Collection of Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, from 1980.-Previous owner of lot: 48, (Imperial white jade "ziqiang buxi" seal, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736 - 1795)) Auctioned: Important Hong Kong Collection, Tommy Lam - Asian Art. 25 October 2023. Darley Auctions.