Adornment Atlas
ExploreStoriesAboutOur research

Materials · organic

Amber

琥珀

hupo

Fossilised tree resin, imported largely from the Baltic and Burma. Used for beads and inlay, especially in Qing ornament.

Objects in this material

Jadeite, jade (nephrite), amber and coral necklace, qing dynasty, 104.1 cm long.

Necklace

Official necklace (chaozhu)

Qing DynastyAmber, jade (jadeite), imitation coral

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jade (nephrite), glass, kingfisher feather, amber, coral and carnelian headdress, qing dynasty, 20.3 cm high.

Guan (cap or crown)

Theatrical Headdress

Qing DynastyJade, amber, coral, carnelian, pearls, glass, feathers, gilt wire

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Amber pendant, qing dynasty, 3.8 cm long.

Pendant

Pendant

Qing DynastyAmber

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pearl, kingfisher feather, amber and coral headdress ornament, qing dynasty, 45.7 cm long.

Headdress fragment

Ornament for a Headdress

Qing DynastyAmber, pearl beads, coral, kingfisher blue

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pearl, kingfisher feather, amber and coral headdress ornament, qing dynasty, 45.7 cm long.

Headdress fragment

Ornament for a Headdress

Qing DynastyAmber, pearl beads, coral, kingfisher blue

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pearl, kingfisher feather and amber hairpin, qing dynasty, 26.4 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Qing DynastyMetal, amber, pearl, feathers

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pearl, kingfisher feather and amber hairpin, qing dynasty, 26 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Qing DynastyMetal, amber, pearl, feathers

The Metropolitan Museum of Art