Ming Dynasty

明代

1368 CE — 1644 CE

A codified dress system fixed ornament by rank. Gilt-silver and gold hairpins with gem inlay, and the formal headdress set (toumain) became highly standardised. Surviving pieces are numerous and well documented.

Forms in this period

Objects

Jade (nephrite) hairpin, ming dynasty, 16 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Ming DynastyJade (nephrite)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jade (nephrite) pendant, ming dynasty, 5.1 cm across.

Pendant

Pendant

Ming DynastyJade

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jadeite pendant, ming dynasty, 6.6 cm high.

Pendant

Pendant

Ming DynastyJadeite

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 7.8 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Ming DynastySilver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 7 cm across.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Ming DynastySilver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 4.8 cm across.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Ming DynastySilver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 4.8 cm across.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Ming DynastySilver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver and pearl hairpin, ming dynasty, 13.3 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Ming DynastyGilt silver, pearl

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 10.2 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Ming DynastyGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 10.2 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Ming DynastyGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gold hairpin with a short decorative head and a single tapering shaft, Ming dynasty

Zan (hairpin)

Gold hairpin

Ming DynastyGold

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Circular gold earring of the Ming dynasty, formed as a plain hoop 3.8 cm across

Ear ring

Gold earring

Ming DynastyGold

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gold earring, ming dynasty, 3.8 cm across.

Ear ring

Earring

Ming DynastyGold

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 12.1 cm high.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Ming DynastyGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 12.1 cm high.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Ming DynastyGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Silver hairpin, ming dynasty, 19.1 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Ming DynastySilver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art