Palace Bracelets: Imperial Craftsmanship Through the Ages
The Forbidden City’s Lost Art of Bracelet Making
When we published our earlier pieces on Forbidden City rings and earrings, readers demanded: “Where are the bracelets?” The delay stems from a sobering reality—many Qing dynasty bracelet techniques in gold filigree, jade carving, and organic gemwork are irreplicably lost. But through VirtuCasa’s 3D digital archiving, we resurrect these designs for modern collectors.
紫禁城手鐲：失傳的宮廷技藝
此前我們發佈的故宫戒指與耳環文章引發讀者追問：「手鐲在哪裡？」延遲源於一個現實：清代金累絲、玉雕與有機寶石手鐲的許多技藝已不可復刻。但透過VirtuCasa的3D數字存檔，我們為現代藏家重現這些設計。
Chapter 1: Gold & Gemmastery – The Qing Zenith
1.1 Filigree Fauna Bracelets
Qing artisans used wires thinner than hair (0.1-0.3mm) to create:
- Lobsters: Symbolizing “Leaping Dragon & Shrimp” (龍騰蝦躍) – career advancement
- Crabs: “Top Scholar Crab” (二甲傳臚) – exam success coded in pincers
- Fish: “Golden Carp Leap” (魚躍龍門) – transformation myths
金銀寶石篇——清代工藝巔峰
1.1 累絲生態手鐲
清代匠人使用細於髮絲的金線（0.1-0.3毫米）創造：
- 龍蝦：寓意「龍騰蝦躍」——事業晉升
- 螃蟹：「二甲傳臚」——科舉成功密碼
- 魚類：「魚躍龍門」——蛻變神話
(Image: Macro view of 0.2mm gold wires forming crab pincers under 30x magnification)
1.2 The “Dehua Pure Gold” Mystery
Bracelets bearing “德华足金” marks reveal a hidden network of 19th-century Beijing goldhouses serving the court. Their signatures became status codes:
- 聚華 (Juhua): Dragon-phoenix motifs
- 寶源 (Baoyuan): Pearl-inlay specialists
- 義和 (Yihe): Filigree innovators
1.2 「德华足金」之謎
帶有「德华足金」印記的手鐲揭露19世紀服務宮廷的北京金店網絡。他們的印記成為身份代碼：
- 聚華：龍鳳紋樣專精
- 寶源：珍珠鑲嵌名家
- 義和：累絲工藝創新
Chapter 2: Organic Jewels – Life Frozen in Time
2.1 Coral Power Symbols
Qing coral wasn’t just red—it was power topology:
- Official Rank: Coral beads on mandarin hats = 2nd grade official
- Imperial Only: Blood coral (oxblood hue) reserved for empresses
- Carving Code: Double-dragons chasing pearls = imperial patronage
有機寶石篇——凝結的生命力
2.1 珊瑚權力符號
清代珊瑚不僅是紅色——它是權力拓撲學：
- 官階標誌：官帽珊瑚珠代表二品大員
- 皇室專屬：牛血紅珊瑚僅限皇后使用
- 雕刻密碼：雙龍搶珠紋=皇室御用
2.2 Ivory’s Chromatic Language
Forbidden City ivory bracelets used mineral pigments:
- Gold foil: Sun energy (yang)
- Cinnabar red: Life force (blood)
- Malachite green: Eternal growth
2.2 象牙的色彩語言
故宫象牙手鐲使用礦物顏料：
- 金箔：陽氣（陽）
- 硃砂紅：生命之力（血）
- 石綠：永恆生長
Chapter 3: Jade – From Nephrite to Jadeite Revolution
3.1 The Ming-Qing Transition
- Ming (1368-1644): Nephrite dragons + phoenixes = subtle whites
- Qing (1644-1912): Jadeite emperors = vibrant greens (chromium discovery)
3.2 “White-Base Green” (白底青) Phenomenon
The most coveted Qing bracelets combined:
- 90% white nephrite: Mountain stability
- 10% jadeite green: Water fluidity
This mountain-water duality embodied Confucian balance.
玉石篇——從軟玉到翡翠的革命
3.1 明清審美轉變
- 明代：軟玉龍鳳=素雅白色
- 清代：翡翠帝王=鮮豔綠色（鉻元素發現）
3.2 「白底青」現象
最受追捧的清代手鐲融合：
- 90%白玉：山岳般穩重
- 10%翠綠：流水般靈動
這種山水二元性體現儒家平衡之道。
Chapter 4: Forgotten Materials – Ghosts of the Palace
4.1 Agarwood’s Medical Magic
Qing nobles wore gamma wood bracelets to:
- Repel mosquitoes (camphor compounds)
- Lower heart rate (sesquiterpenes)
- Display wealth (1 bracelet = 50kg rice)
4.2 Silver-Enamel “Flexi Cuffs”
The Forbidden City’s answer to modern hinges:
- Expandable bands with blue enamel clouds
- Hidden clasps shaped as bats (good fortune)
稀有材質篇——宮廷的記憶碎片
4.1 伽南香的醫學智慧
清代貴族佩戴伽南香木鐲用以：
- 驅蚊（樟腦化合物）
- 降心率（倍半萜烯）
- 炫耀財富（1鐲=50公斤大米）
4.2 銀琺瑯「彈性鐲」
紫禁城的現代鉸鏈先驅：
- 可伸縮銀胎鑲藍色琺瑯雲紋
- 蝙蝠形暗釦（寓意福氣）
VirtuCasa’s Imperial Revival Initiative
We partner with Palace Museum researchers to:
- Laser-scan 200+ bracelets for digital preservation
- Reinterpret designs using ethical materials (e.g., lab-grown corals)
- Embed NFT twins with historical context
VirtuCasa的宮廷復興計劃
我們與故宫研究院合作：
- 激光掃描200+件手鐲進行數字存檔
- 使用環保材質（如培育珊瑚）重新演繹設計
- 為每件作品附加NFT數字分身與歷史背景
Read More
- Collectors' Academy (91)
- Care Academy (5)
- Investment Academy (18)
- Jade Crafting Techniques (28)
- Michelle Au: The Gemstone Luminary (11)
