19th Century Heidao Monkey Pendant carnelian and brilliance of natural gemstones

and brilliance of natural gemstones were simulated to virtual perfection

depicting the Roman god Mercury riding through the sky on his chariot pulled by two roosters (creatures believed

Well proportioned and bearing French hallmarks to the outer band

queer remote suspicions like shadow seem from far away

set with diamond accents and finished in fine millegrain

19th Century Heidao Monkey Pendant carnelian and brilliance of natural gemstonesDATE: Victorian, c. 1850 Known as heidao, the art of carving nuts and fruit pits into intricate three dimensional beads flourished during the Qing period (1644 1911), with artists continually trying to better themselves and their contemporaries both. Subjects would include the Chinese zodiac, Buddha, sages, animals, scenes from nature or legend, and they would typically use apricot kernels, peach, coquilla, or olive pits, walnuts, or myrica rubra