Armlet

臂环

bi huan

A rigid ring worn on the arm or wrist. Jadeite armlets were worn in pairs high on the forearm in the Qing period.

Not equivalent to

English “hairpin” covers several distinct Chinese forms. A armlet is not interchangeable with other types.

Worn at: upper-arm, wrist
Requires piercing: No
Objects in catalogue: 13

How to tell it apart

An armlet is rigid and closed; a bracelet may be strung or flexible. The distinction is material and construction, not position alone.

Objects of this type

Silver armlet, qing dynasty.

Armlet

Bracelet

Qing Dynastysilver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Armlet, qing dynasty, 19.7 cm long.

Armlet

Bracelet

Qing DynastyPainted enamel beads

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jade (nephrite) armlet, qin and han dynasties, 8.3 cm across.

Armlet

Bracelet

Qin and Han DynastiesJade

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jade (nephrite) armlet, qing dynasty, 7.1 cm across.

Armlet

Bracelet

Qing DynastyJade

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jadeite armlet, qing dynasty, 7.9 cm across.

Armlet

Bracelet

Qing DynastyJadeite

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jade (nephrite) armlet, qing dynasty, 7.1 cm across.

Armlet

Bracelet

Qing DynastyJade

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jade (nephrite) armlet, qin and han dynasties, 12.5 cm high.

Armlet

Armlet

Qin and Han DynastiesNephrite

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jadeite armlet, qing dynasty, 7.9 cm high.

Armlet

Armlet

Qing DynastyJadeite

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jadeite armlet, qing dynasty, 9 cm high.

Armlet

Armlet

Qing DynastyJadeite

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jadeite armlet, qing dynasty, 8 cm high.

Armlet

Armlet

Qing DynastyJadeite

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jadeite armlet, qing dynasty, 7.5 cm high.

Armlet

Armlet

Qing DynastyJadeite

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jade (nephrite) armlet, prehistoric china, 8.6 cm across.

Armlet

Bracelet

Prehistoric ChinaJade (Nephrite)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Glass armlet, shang and zhou dynasties, 1.3 cm wide.

Armlet

Aqua-Colored Glass Bracelet

Shang and Zhou DynastiesGlass

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sources

Bracelet (acc. 2005.359a, b)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2005 · Tier 2
Bracelet (acc. 24.80.347)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1924 · Tier 2
Bracelet (acc. 11.190.170)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1911 · Tier 2
Bracelet (acc. 65.86.163)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1965 · Tier 2
Bracelet (acc. 65.86.84)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1965 · Tier 2
Bracelet (acc. 65.86.164)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1965 · Tier 2
Armlet (acc. 02.18.329)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1902 · Tier 2
Armlet (acc. 02.18.716)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1902 · Tier 2
Armlet (acc. 02.18.717)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1902 · Tier 2
Armlet (acc. 02.18.718)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1902 · Tier 2
Armlet (acc. 02.18.719)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1902 · Tier 2
Bracelet (acc. 1994.605.5)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1994 · Tier 2
Aqua-Colored Glass Bracelet (acc. 1994.605.8)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1994 · Tier 2