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Head Ornament

3rd century BC
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
This ornament, found around the head of the deceased, comprises hundreds of turquoise, carnelian, and gold beads. Their shapes vary, from flat to faceted to cylindrical. The ornament was found in Zhangjiachuan, where nomadic tribes from the steppes coexisted alongside the Qin. In shape and technique, these beads reveal the influence of the Qin’s nomadic neighbors.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 战国晚期 玛瑙、松石、黄金串饰
  • Title: Head Ornament
  • Period: Warring States period (475–221 BCE)
  • Date: 3rd century BC
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Gold, turquoise, and carnelian
  • Dimensions: H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); W. 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm)
    Display case: H. 11 in. (27.9 cm); W. 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm); D. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm)
  • Classification: Jewelry
  • Credit Line: Lent by Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art