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Love the diamonds and pearl combi: Source...

Ok, quick updates, reserved the top strand and sorting thru payment and international shipping (erm, all via email so the process takes a while)... which means I could get my necklace by next week! Woot! Bad news is, there is no matching earrings. So much for all the angst about earring design...

Sources Part 2: Good info on this site: http://www.cultural-china.com A portrait via Wikipedia: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/19/Noblewoman5.jpg Crown pics: http://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/phoenix-crowns/ Cixi pics were all over the place - was really an image...

Sources of the pics - part 1: I like this site for the fairly reliable info about Cixi and the emperors, you can explore the other pics and sections if you are interested: http://www.dpm.org.cn/files/subject/uk/cixi/1.html#no1 (link to the Cixi site) Gorgeous pics (Cartier stuff are to die...

Only empresses get to wear the 3-pearl type of earrings. For your reading pleasure: http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/41Arts2520.html Too bad the Chinese museums have not caught up with the western ones in terms of souvenirs/store selection. The simple earring designs would be great in the...

Thanks for your help and warm welcome everyone. Have written to ask for the top strand in 18 inches. Am now checking on matching earrings. For earring setting, am thinking simple for now, so sticking simple hooks (hey, lots of opportunities for other settings next time). Very excited and I hope...

Sure Ash, can do that. Will do that this weekend when I have a good block of time.

Hi CliClasp, great question and something I wondered about too. My knowledge of law is not great, but we are using the pics for non-commercial purpose so it does make a difference (I think). Something under the 'fair use' rule? While browsing the older threads the past 2 weeks, I recall...

And finally, more earrings for inspiration perhaps? :) Even just for decoration, a gold magnolia tree with pearls:

And some of my favs so far, the hat toppers:

More examples: Summer Court Hat for Imperial Concubines: Gilt Headdress in Kingfisher Feathers with Chinese Character "Double Happiness": Belt and Gilt Buckle with Floral Design Inlaid with Diamonds: Gold Headdress Ornament with Water Chestnut Floral Design Inlaid with Diamonds:

Thanks for rating the thread 5 star! :) Cixi can be pronounced as "Tzu-hsi". More info in wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Cixi She has a fascinating history. Tends to be vilified in drama shows as the power hungry concubine. In China pearls are used frequently in hair...

DK: Interchangeable drops does sound nice. I do have a pair of WG loops with removable diamond drop. Maybe I can use that... Thanks for the idea! I have small earlobes and features in general. So, nothing massive for me. Based on my height I can't wear small pearls either, so I think mid-sizes...

Ok, last look before I go to sleep:

Thanks for liking this thread. :) I'll post a few more pics from history that I found interesting. Cixi is the famous empress dowager during the Qing dynasty... blamed for making many horrible decisions as the regent that lead to the eventual collapse of the dynasty. But she does have fab...

Perhaps my newfound 'pearl sisters' could be interested to hear how I started my recent pearl obsession? A few years back when I was in China for company business, I met a local colleague who has a fab collection of pearls. She was wearing gorgeous matching sets of yellow SSP, gun metal grey...

Thanks Marianne & Karin - think I'm 95% going for the top strand. Everyone seems to like that strand more. :D Pattye: I am thinking just slightly larger, say 9 to 9.5mm? Just to give a bit more focus to the earrings. You think that will be too much/big? I actually like the 'minimalist' style...

Even further back to the Song Dynasty (960–1279): My chinese language ability is limited so I am not able to search chinese websites that surely would have more info. But these websites mention some references to ancient chinese books that recorded pearls...

But strictly speaking the rulers of the Qing Dynasty are not 'chinese' but an ethic minority the 'Manchu'. So looking back further in time to the Ming Dynasty that was under ethnic 'Han' chinese rule... This is probably an imperial portrait as well: Actual crown:

A couple more Qing dynasty imperial portraits and examples. Dragon robe and empress gown: Crowns: