The Piece
Age Circa: Art Deco C. 1920 - 1940
Markings: Silver on the back on one panel, Tested, Guaranteed
Country of Origin: China
Brand: Unknown
Gram Weight: 52.9 Grams
Metal Type: .925 Sterling Silver
Material: --
Main Stone: --
Main Stone Carat Weight/Color: --
Accent Stone: --
Accent Stone Carat Weight/Color: --
Stone Treatment: --
Stone Cuts: --
Item Measurements: The bracelet has a wearable length of 7", and is 0.7" wide. There is a safety chain that allows the bracelet to open for a wrist gap of 2.5".
Bracelet Type: Panel Bracelet
Closure/Clasp Type: Box Clasp
Link Type: The bracelet is made of hinged panel links. The safety chain consists of curb links.
Notable Features: This lovely Four Seasons panel bracelet was handmade in China during the Art Deco period! The bracelet consists of eight hollow overlay panel links. Each link has a slightly contoured underside for a more natural fit on the wrist. The links were made by creating a base layer of sterling silver, and then overlaying a domed cutout layer on top, creating a shadowbox-style design. The cut out design of each panel is intricate and unique; they depict the traditional Chinese Four Seasons motif. Each panel has been dedicated to one of the plants which represent Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The depicted flowers are the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum. Between each plant link is a panel depicting a Chinese elemental spirit for luck and balance. The panels are connected to one another on barrel hinges, which allow the piece to fit organically to the wearer. This bracelet still has its original safety chain; dainty cable links for added security, and the box clasp is hidden inside one of the panels so the pattern of the links is not disrupted. A stunning piece of work, this Four Season panel bracelet would make a wonderful gift.
Damage: Age appropriate wear.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
This beautiful piece comes from the Art Deco Era! The Art Deco Era is famous for being the "Gatsby" or "Roaring Twenties" Era. A lot of gorgeous and timeless designs in jewelry came out of this period.
During the Art Deco Period jewelers often made jewelry upon custom order, this would often take weeks to months to completely craft by hand.
Chinese Export jewelry became popular during the late Victorian Period and lasted until the 1960's. In a lot of ways Chinese Export jewelry fashioned what we know of jewelry today. During these periods, Chinese Craftsmen, including Jewelers and Stone cutters, were considered by far the best in the world.
The rich and wealthy would have a piece custom ordered through their local jeweler whom was usually gifted at drawing a design to send off to contacts in China to craft and send back. As you can imagine, this was not cheap, that being said, these pieces are very rare and few have survived until today.
Since antiquity, Chinese culture and art has depicted the changing seasons with flowers and plants. This motif is most well known as The Flowers of the Four Seasons, with each plant representing its own time of year. The orchid represents spring, the lotus represents summer, the chrysanthemum for autumn, and the plum blossom for winter. Three of these flowers, the plum blossom, the orchid and the chrysanthemum, along with bamboo, make up the Four Noble Ones, or the Four Gentlemen, which were plants significant to Confucian beliefs. These beautiful and idyllic images can be seen in art and jewelry as far back as the beginning of the Song Dynasty in 960 A.D.
