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China Kingfisher Headdress Decoration Silver and kingfisher feathers, 19th century Qing dynasty 8-1/4" H by 7-3/4" W Gift of Mrs. J. A. Woodruff 1955:43

Silver jewelry inlaid with the brilliant blue feathers of the kingfisher was very popular during the 18th and 19^th centuries. The stunning iridescent blue of these almost weightless feathers make them ideal for ornamentation.

Kingfisher feathers have a long history in Chinese art. During the Han dynasty (206 B.C. — A.D. 220) the feathers were desired for wall hangings and bedcovers. Tang dynasty courtiers reserved the feathers solely for their own use in court wear and as inlay for golden jewelry.

During the Qing dynasty, the feathers were used to decorate large, elaborate headdresses worn by the highest-ranking women at the court. The feathers were set into jewelry, sometime placed within simple gold spring mechanisms so the feathers would move with the wearer.

At one time, possession of a piece of this jewelry was the dream of every Chinese woman. Unfortunately, the kingfisher, once plentiful along China’s rivers and marshes, has since been hunted to extinction.

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