{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O497474"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O497474/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MX1234/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MX1234/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MX1234","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MX1235","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JG8906","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O497474/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O497474","accessionNumber":"1265-1883","objectType":"Hairpin","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Seven orchid blossoms adorn this enamelled silver-gilt hairpin, each set on a spring mount. Hair ornaments such as this are called <i>buyao</i>, meaning ‘step’ and ‘sway,’ alluding to the ‘trembling’ action that occurs when the wearer moves. The technique of incorporating movement into the design of head accessories is believed to date back at least 1,500 years. It involved creating mobile parts, which often featured delicately quivering flowers, insects or birds, mounted on wire-coiled springs to suggest realistic movement and height. \nSuch hair ornaments became fashionable among court ladies during the 5th and 6th centuries. The allure of these hairpins lay in the grace and elegance they imparted, which gave the impression that the wearer was floating along in the breeze, as shown in a scene with two palace ladies from <i>The Admonitions Scroll</i>. ","physicalDescription":"Hairpin, made of silver-gilt, the head formed by a clutter of seven orchid blossoms, enamelled, and secured by spiral wires to an enamelled band of floral designs.\r\nThe maker's mark, 'bao cheng' 寶成 is stamped on the back of the pin.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver-gilt","id":"x37998"}],"techniques":[{"text":"enamelling","id":"x37485"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver-gilt, enamelled","categories":[{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Hair and hairstyles","id":"THES258945"},{"text":"Hats & headwear","id":"THES48943"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qing","id":"AAT18478"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2021MX1234","2021MX1235","2016JG8906"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES395002"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"HAIR ORNAMENT","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1880-1883","earliest":"1880-01-01","latest":"1883-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"寶成","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"Bao cheng","type":"","note":"On the back of pin"}],"objectHistory":"Purchased from the International Colonial and Export Exhibition, 1883, accessioned in 1883. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.\nPurchased from the Imperial Chinese Commission at the International Colonial and Export Exhibition held in Amsterdam in 1883. RF31245/1883","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Hairpin (<i>buyao</i>) in the shape of orchid blossoms, enamelled, silver-gilt, China, Qing dynasty, 1880-83","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1265-1883"],"accessionNumberNum":"1265","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1883,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-12","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}