Adornment Atlas
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Techniques

Gilding

鎏金

liujin

Applying a thin layer of gold to a metal surface, commonly by mercury gilding. It gives the appearance of solid gold while using far less of it.

Objects using this technique

Group of eleven gilded silver headdress ornaments, each with a blue-green kingfisher-feather surface and glass-bead settings

Headdress fragment

Set of Headdress Ornaments

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress element with blue kingfisher-feather inlay and glass beads

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress ornament with turquoise-blue feather inlay and bead settings

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress ornament surfaced with iridescent kingfisher feathers

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress element with blue-green feather inlay and small glass beads

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress ornament with kingfisher-feather surface and beaded detail

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress element with turquoise feather inlay

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress ornament with blue feather inlay and beadwork

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress element surfaced with kingfisher feathers

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress ornament with blue kingfisher-feather decoration

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilded silver headdress element with turquoise feather surface and bead settings

Headdress fragment

Headdress Ornament

Qing DynastyCopper-silver alloy, gilding, kingfisher feathers, glass beads

The Cleveland 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

Gilt silver hairpin, sui and tang dynasties, 14.3 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Sui and Tang DynastiesGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, sui and tang dynasties, 12.7 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Sui and Tang DynastiesGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, song, liao, jin and yuan dynasties, 2.2 cm high.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan DynastiesGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, song, liao, jin and yuan dynasties, 2.2 cm high.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan DynastiesGilt silver

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

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

Hairpin, song, liao, jin and yuan dynasties, 5.4 cm high.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair ornament

Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan DynastiesLacquer, gilt wood

The Metropolitan Museum of Art