Six-piece set of antique Chinese nail protectors (Hu Zhi)...

This highly decorative lot comprises a rare thematically rich collection of six handmade Chinese nail guards, dating from the first half of the twentieth century. This specific type of jewelry has a fascinating origin as a status symbol within the aristocratic circles of the Qing dynasty. Long nails indicated that the wearer did not have to perform manual labor, and these horn-shaped cylinders served to protect the fragile fingernails. The objects in this lot were crafted during the subsequent Republican period as so-called Chinese Export, intended for the then-emerging Western market for high-quality Asian curios. The collection stands out for a harmonious variation in both material usage and artistic techniques, spread across two different variants. Four pieces are masterfully decorated with colorful champlevé and cloisonné enamels. Against a deep cobalt-blue glaze background, vivid floral motifs and butterflies are applied in shades of green and red. Inside, these pieces are finely finished with a turquoise glaze over a tangible repoussé pattern in the metal base. The remaining two pieces show a different traditional discipline and are fully executed in a silver-tone metal. Given the alloy’s characteristic reaction to friction, these are historic Chinese white copper (Paktong) or a lightly alloyed base metal. The silver-colored guards are extravagantly adorned with detailed hand-engraved chasing and engravings of blooming peonies—the queen of flowers that symbolizes nobility and high status. What makes this six-piece set museum-worthy and artistically interesting is the sequence of traditional Chinese auspicious wishes and the so-called visual wordplays spread across the different objects. Two of the enameled pieces bear a gold-colored cartouche with the character 福 (Fú), meaning blessing and prosperity. On one piece, a light-blue butterfly (symbolizing beauty and a long life) flanks the character, while on the other a dark-colored bat is depicted. Since the pronunciation of the word for bat is also fú, this forms a classic rebus for double happiness. The remaining four objects in the lot — both of the other enamel variants and the two silver-colored pieces — are equipped with a three-dimensionally mounted mythical Money Frog (Chan Chu). This three-legged toad is, in Chinese iconography, the strongest symbol for attracting wealth and financial success. On the silver examples, the toad looks in a different direction each time for a dynamic effect when worn. At the center of these objects sits a raised, wish-fulfilling jewel, formed by an inlaid bead of deep red coral on one piece and sky-blue turquoise on the other. The nail guards are typically hollow and taper to a point, with the rear side left open and provided with a flexible, ring-shaped clip to adjust to the wearer's finger width. The visible traces of tin and silver solder around the feet of the toads and the settings of the stones testify to genuine, early twentieth-century handcraft. The edges of the silver pieces also feature the characteristic small mounting eyelets. The entire set is in a beautiful, authentic condition with a natural aged patina and normal, light signs of aging that contribute to the historical character of the collection. A unique opportunity for collectors of Asian art to acquire a thematically complete and versatile set. Dimensions: 8.3 cm the largest Weight: 60 g total

Estimate:$246.49

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