Gold Pendant with Openwork Phoenix

When wealthy Song dynasty families prepared wedding gifts for women, the gift always included three pieces of gold jewelry: gold armlets, gold bracelets, and gold pendants. This golden sachet-shaped pendant would have been worn on a Xiapei (霞帔), a ceremonial robe worn by women. The imperial concubines of the Ming Dynasty decorated their Xiapei robes with jade pendants, while princesses used gold.

The inscription on the inside of the pendant's hook tells us that this piece was made at the Silver Bureau in the 12th month of the 7th year of the Xuande Emperor and it is 70% gold and weighs one liang and nine qian. The Silver Bureau was a eunuch-run department attached to the Ming court. It specialized in gold and silver coins and utensils. As this item was produced by the Silver Bureau, this indicates that it was a gift from the court. Along with matching gold armlets and bracelets set with precious stones, it forms a complete wedding gift set.