Chinese Traditional Costume Jewelry
Chinese traditional costume jewelry forms an important part of the Chinese culture. The richness of the tradition is shown not only in the magnificent and varied collections available for purchase, but also in the numerous accessories that decorate these pieces. For many years, Westerners have tended to regard Chinese traditional costume as merely fashionable, which can be seen in the over-production of such items as fake pearls. However, there are some useful tips on how to spot an authentic Chinese traditional costume and other, more traditional, jewelry.
Chinese people tend to dress according to the seasons, as well as the time of the year. As such, there are five age-old Chinese traditional costume jewelry traditions that are still in practice today - embroidery for young girls, gold for youths, silver for women, jade for old men and plated steel for a man. Most of these pieces of jewelry are quite valuable. If you're looking for authentic Chinese traditional costume jewelry, you'll want to shop at stores that specialize in ethnic or traditional fashion, not generalized jewelry stores. This is where the big value items lie, and it's very possible that what you're initially looking for won't be in stock. In fact, many stores won't even put this type of jewelry on display. They tend to keep it tucked away in the back rooms, where only the most loyal customers ever find them. (The Chinese refer to this as "mouse hole".) The best place to look for Chinese traditional costume jewelry is at an actual shop, run by Chinese-speaking, Chinese craftsmen. You can usually tell a shopkeeper by his accent, and if he doesn't speak English, ask him point blank what he is selling. If he has no choice but to guess, then make sure he says "handcrafted", not "artificial". When Chinese traditional costume jewelry is in stock, it can usually be found on the wall shelves in the back rooms, behind picture frames and photos. But it's not going to be easy finding out which pieces are old and which are new. Because of the tightly controlled quality control within the Chinese traditional jewelry industry, even today most jewelry is made according to very strict designs that have been handed down over many generations. The traditional Chinese costume jewelry that you'll find being sold is all done in one of two ways: factory made (which is also called mass-manufactured) or handcrafted. Factory made jewelry is made in a large factory somewhere and is distributed throughout the country as a whole. All of the work is delegated from master craftsmen who oversee everything from the molding process to the final finish. Chinese traditional jewelry is almost always produced in this way. There are exceptions - for example, some earrings might be manufactured in a small workshop on the other side of the country. But most of the time, you'll find the jewelry produced in either a large factory or by individual artists. If you can find these master craftsmen in a city near you, it's a great opportunity to buy their jewelry directly from them. You'll pay a premium price for the piece, of course, but it's an amazing opportunity to get a really unique design and to see the jewelry in person before you buy it. It's something that few people ever get to experience. Handcrafted traditional costume jewelry can be just as impressive, and you're more likely to see it. In small workshops scattered across the country, small teams of artists work by their own independent budgets to create stunning traditional costume jewelry. They can specialize in any number of styles, from elegant filigree to elaborate floral designs. Many will go on to make purses and other jewelry products specifically to meet your specifications. |