Chinese Bracelet

China has a long heritage of artistic practices, its art history dating back to the Neolithic period around the 5th millennia. It was the era when jewelry started being made by Chinese artists working in different materials. Over the course of history, various styles emerged from different regions and eras, though the materials used and the styles remained largely unchanged. The collection of antique Chinese bracelets on online auctions at Bidsquare is wide and distinctive, dating from the 19th Century to the 21st Century, and includes round cut, oval cut, and tumbled Chinese bracelets.

Chinese bracelets were carved into round-shaped decorations with designs of animals and symbols and were worn on wrists and arms by both men and women alike to look beautiful, exorcise evils, as personal symbol status, and as betrothal gifts for centuries.  

Chinese Bracelet Through the Ages

Considered as a spiritual stone in China, Jade bracelets served as a link between the wearer and their ancestors. From the Zhou Dynasty onwards, Jade Bi (Yubi) was officially used for worshipping heaven while Jade Cong (Yucong) for offering sacrifice to the earth. Jade in itself was considered to be more valuable than precious metals, with its different colors signifying different levels of wealth and status in society. The Chinese bracelets and armlets of today are believed to be modeled after Jade Bi and Cong, which were both round and carved with elaborate patterns. With time, bracelets began to incorporate other materials, including gold, silver, and gemstones, etc. 

Almost all of the historical antique Chinese bracelets we see today date from the Victorian Era made exclusively for export to western countries. Bracelets made from carved jade by skilled craftsmen are priced differently based on their size, period, and other attributes.

Quick Facts about Chinese Bracelets

• Chinese bracelets that feature images of certain things hold certain meanings to the wearers. 
• The catfish on the bracelet signifies a happy marriage while Lotus flowers symbolize happiness and balance.
• The jewelry of kings or emperors often depicted dragons or phoenixes.