White jade “Phoenix and flaming pearl” archer ring, Qing dynasty

Archer's ring (板指) of carved white jade. Adorned by a continuous scene, framed by two thin lines, of a beautiful phoenix with outstretched wings and long feathered tail, resting with its paws on the ground, before a large flaming pearl.

This type of rings are placed on the pulling finger which is the thumb of the right hand to hook the string when practicing archery. Over time they have become more decorative than functional. During the Qing Dynasty their production became very popular.

Height: 2.2 cm; Diameter: 2.8 cm

Weight: 23 g