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Chinese Silver Chain Necklace with Padlock, Coral and Turquoise - Rita Okrent Collection (NE633)

RARE FIND: only one in our inventory

A lovely necklace adorned with a Chinese silver lock pendant and Chinese silver gourd amulets for luck, turquoise and coral. Wonderful silver work in repousse silver.
These silver padlocks were hung around a baby’s neck during the first month celebration (manyueh) to ward off evil and “lock the chlid to Earth” - protection against infant mortality.
This is a wearable necklace finished (by me) with one of Rita’s handmade sterling silver hook and eye clasps.
It is likely that the coral and turquoise were added later to transform the lock into a woman’s necklace, so the elements are older than the necklace as a whole.
Necklace measures 26 inches/66 cm.
Lock measures 6.3cm / 2.5 inches across.

Reference: Four Centuries of Silver / Personal Adornment in the Qing Dynasty and After (Margaret Duda).

 

Necklace Item 633

 

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