Chinese Phoenix Crown
Mysterious blue material, which decorated the jewellery worn by Chinese beauties – kingfisher feathers. The dazzling heavenly color has not lost its kind to this day, even through the centuries. This material is present in the incredibly beautiful headdress – Chinese Phoenix Crown, known as Fengguan, a masterpiece of the history of jewelry. In ancient China, the dragon marked the Emperor, and Phoenix – the Empress. Chinese Phoenix Crown – a traditional ceremonial headdress of female nobility. The particular importance the phoenix crown reached in the era of the Ming. In the above picture – the ritual headdress Phoenix Crown for the Empress Dowager Xiaojie (Ming Dynasty, Wanli era: 1573-1620). It is currently exhibited in the National Museum in Beijing. The crown was removed from the tomb of Dinlin near Beijing. The crown depicts 12 of dragons and 9 phoenixes. Empress Phoenix Crown was worn only during important events: obtaining the title, visiting Ancestral Temple, reception of ministers.
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