Carved jade "Ling Guan", Qing dynasty, 19th century

White Hetian jade with a greenish hue. It is carved in the shape of "翎管" (Líng guan), which means "feather tube". It was a traditional clothing utensil of Qing dynasty officials. The shape is cylindrical with a point at the main end, for tying it to the hat, and a hollow inside for feathers. At the top is a string with an agate bead from the Zhou dynasty. In very good condition.

According to Qing dynasty regulations, high-ranking officials were allowed to wear jade feather tubes. It was placed at the top of the hat, below the upper bead. It arose as a reform of the crown system which in the early Qing dynasty changed the high crowns, used until then, to top hats.

Provenance: Important collection of Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, from 1980.

Length: 8.2 cm; Diameter: 1.5 cm; Weight: 38 g