A RARE BEADED GOLD-MOUNTED BLUE GLASS HAIRPIN

Tang Dynasty

Footnotes

唐 金炸珠藍色琉璃杆髮釵

The present hairpin is a typical example of women's hair accessories during the Tang dynasty. Its gold head is crafted using the technique in which gold wire is woven into a base, inlaid with gemstones, and interspersed with tiny gold beads. The centre is adorned with an exquisite Baoxiang flower pattern. The pin part is made of blue glass in parallel rows, seamlessly blending into the head. This hairpin is exceptionally rare with its well-preserved condition.

Hairpins of this type are not only hair accessories but also an expression of the exquisite craftsmanship, status symbol, and aesthetic taste. It embodies the elegance of Tang women and holds immense artistic value and historical significance. Hairpins favoured by ordinary people during that period were mostly made of silver, often embellished with gilding or inlaid gold, and featured simple and flowing patterns. However, those worn by the court and aristocracy were often crafted from pure gold, intricately engraved with patterns, and sometimes inlaid with gemstones, pearls, or glasses. Hairpins were simple in design during the early Tang dynasty, becoming increasingly complex during the High Tang dynasty, and then returning to a delicate style in the late Tang dynasty. Their evolution mirrored fashion trends. Tang dynasty hairpins embody exquisite craftsmanship, cultural integration, and the evolution of fashion. They are not only treasures in a woman's dressing table, but also a reflection of the open-minded and confident spirit of the prosperous Tang dynasty. From the imperial court to the people, a single hairpin captures a millennium of elegance and grace.

此唐代雙股釵堪稱唐代女性髮飾中的經典形制。其釵頭以黃金為質，採用金框寶鈿工藝（即以金絲編織為胎，鑲嵌寶石，並以炸珠填補空隙）精製而成，中心飾以精美的寶相花紋樣。釵腳部分以藍色琉璃平行排列，與釵頭自然銜接。此件髮釵保存完整，殊為稀有。

此唐代雙股釵不僅是實用髮飾，更是工藝水準、身份象徵與美學意趣的集中體現，承載著大唐女性的風采與理想，具有極高的藝術價值與歷史意義。唐代民間所尚發釵多為銀質，常施以鎏金或錯金工藝，紋飾簡練流暢；而宮廷貴族則多採用純金打造，鏨刻精細紋樣，部分嵌以寶石、珍珠或琉璃裝飾。初唐時期發釵造型尚簡，至盛唐漸趨繁複，晚唐又複歸纖巧，其演變軌跡與服飾風尚相呼應。唐代發釵集工藝之精湛、文化之交融、時尚之變遷於一體，既是女性妝奩中的珍品，亦是大唐盛世開放自信精神之寫照。自宮廷至民間，一枝發釵可覽千年風華。