Cased set of seven Chinese Mandarin civil official hat finials, late Qing dynasty, presented 1926
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late Qing dynasty, presented in 1926
This collection comprises seven Chinese Mandarin civil official hat finials, dating to the late Qing dynasty. These finials, historically worn at the apex of traditional Chinese official hats to denote rank, are crafted with intricate gilt metal filigree bases supporting spherical globes of various coloured glass.
The highest-ranking example is fashioned from gilt metal. The set is displayed on a card-mounted base housed within a dedicated hardwood display case, which features a glazed upper section. Included is a faux ivory label inscribed to detail its presentation in 1926 to Reginald Follett Codrington Hedgeland, a Commissioner of Customs, by Li Ch'ung-Kung, the Customs Superintendent and Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in Swatow.
The physical ensemble measures 37 cm in width, 10 cm in depth, and 18.5 cm in height. These decorative finials serve as significant historical artifacts of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service during a period of transition in the early 20th century.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gilt metal, glass, hardwood, silk, card
- Dimensions
- 37cm x 10cm x 18.5cm
Technical characteristics
- Construction
- gilt filigree bases with globe finials
Design
- Inscription
- Mandarin buttons indicating rank, and worn at the top of the old style Chinese official hat. Presented to RFC Hedgeland, Commissioner of Customs, Swatow, by Li Ch'ung-Kung, Customs Superintendent and Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, 5 August 1926
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.