Pearls in chinese history

[adidaem]

Sure Ash, can do that. Will do that this weekend when I have a good block of time.

 

[Caitlin]

Fair use does NOT include using others' photos to make money off them or to misrepresent other goods.

My opinion, based on seeking out knowledge of fair use on other blogs about such things, is that fair use includes using a photo that makes a point or helps back assertions, for publicity, for review and/or criticism, and suchlike, for which photos enhance understanding of something. It would be like quoting a paragraph from an article for the same kinds of reasons. Of course, it is always best to give the source as a link.

We had a wonderful poster (valeria101) who put up photos of incredible jewelry almost every day, but she quit posting when some people started saying you have to get permission to use photos. This website has lost a phenomenal resource when she quit putting up pictures and I regret it to this day.

And, those ebay listing pix - if we don't copy the photo over here, it is lost forever after 90 days and thus hurts the threads where there are only links, no photos. We have lost some important educational chunks by not putting the photos up over here.

We are an educational site and have no other mission, we do not use photos in any underhanded way, but only for educational purposes. If someone should ever see their picture and want it down, it will be easy to comply and apologize, but I would still ask specific permission to keep it up and argue why.

I can't think of an illegal reason this site would use photos for. However, I am only speaking for myself, here, but that is my opinion and what I do.

 

[CLICLASP]

I agree that this place is a wonderful library, and that's why I posted so many myself.
But on the process to post photos, I dare say that using photos from others for educational purpose is not enough, as an exemple, Adeline had to ask :
"I loved the photos on the exhibits. Were they yours as well"
after the photos were posted. Would it not be better to post and indicate at the same time where the pictures are from ?
And in such case, tell (if not asking for permission) the site where the photo are taken from that we are willing to share them here ?
I noticed that when we ask for permission, we get a yes nearly 100% times, including ebay, etsy and so on...
Well that's only my opinion and what I do when I need to do so.

 

[Caitlin]

Of course you can ask permission.

I was just saying I think fair use allows us to use photos for educational purposes or critique purposes as opposed to commercial purposes.

It is always best to include the sources whether you ask permission to or not.

If Valeria101 had asked permission before she posted every photo, she would not have been able to post them as she sees them and several every day. She always gave the sources and I think that is adequate. I don't ask people if I can quote them when I write an article or a review, I just cite the source. I have not talked directly to a lawyer myself, but some of my blogger friends have and this was what they reported.

If someone has a sign on their photo denying permission to reproduce it without permission, I ask for permission. Otherwise, I don't.

 

[CLICLASP]

Thank you Caitlin, it is good to have this point cleared.

 

[Ash]

Hi adidaem,

Thanks. I initially asked about the websites, so I could learn something and appease the history buff in me that has been a bit antsy lately Jewelery for me is a gateway to learning about other cultures. I for one am really looking forward to learning more!

Cheers
Ash

 

[pbazar]

Thanks for liking this thread.

I'll post a few more pics from history that I found interesting.

Cixi is the famous empress dowager during the Qing dynasty... blamed for making many horrible decisions as the regent that lead to the eventual collapse of the dynasty. But she does have fab jewellery as you can see from these pics.

She doesn't just have usual strands... she actually has a cape of pearls:

Earrings during the Qing dynasty:

The "Imperial Hong Kong Pearl" aka the "Miracle of the Sea" is an enormous silvery white, baroque pearl with an irregular drop-shape and having dimensions of 26 x 39 mm, and a weight of 25.5 grams, equivalent to 127.5 carats or 510.0 grains. It is one of the largest nacreous pearls discovered in the world, believed to have originated in a saltwater oyster species, known as Pinctada maxima, common in the South Seas between Southern China and Northern Australia.

The pearl formerly owned by The Dowager Empress of Tzu - Hsi (Cixi) of the Chiang Dynasty from 1875 to 1908 wore it on a slender chain around her neck as a good luck amulet, the pearl is nearly the size of a small egg and is richly encrusted with platinum filigree work.

The "Imperial Hong Kong Pearl" reached Hong Kong in the 1940s and was purchased by Imperial Pearl. Today, the enormous natural baroque pearl remains one of the Imperial Treasures
http://www.imperialpearl.com/Imperial/Treasures/index.asp

If this interests you you should read Empress Orchid and The Last Empress by Anchee Min

 

[Caitlin]

And thank you so much for posting that picture here! that is a totally incredible pearl. What a treasure for Imperial to own!

 

[Ash]

WOW!! What a wonderful pearl for your collection! Thank you for sharing the Photos & History! Ohhh I really Like the earrings & the Pearl netted "Collar".

Can one person continually fall in love with a gemstone over & Over?? Cause well I think I am.


Cheers
Ash

 

[Amrita]

Love those Qing Dynasty earrings! Thanks for posting such great pictures here!

 

[pattye]

I keep going back to the earrings also!

 

[adidaem]

Only empresses get to wear the 3-pearl type of earrings. For your reading pleasure: http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/41Arts2520.html

Too bad the Chinese museums have not caught up with the western ones in terms of souvenirs/store selection. The simple earring designs would be great in the museum shop.

Very typically complicated 'chinese' styles in the Met Shop as usual: http://store.metmuseum.org/necklaces/chinese-layered-blossom-necklace/invt/80009851/

 

[adidaem]

Sources of the pics - part 1:

I like this site for the fairly reliable info about Cixi and the emperors, you can explore the other pics and sections if you are interested:
http://www.dpm.org.cn/files/subject/uk/cixi/1.html#no1 (link to the Cixi site)

Gorgeous pics (Cartier stuff are to die for too):
http://www.npm.edu.tw/exh101/royalstyle/eng/selections.html

This site was quite hard to navigate, no particular section that I could pinpoint. I mostly picked up the pics from Google image search:
http://hua.umf.maine.edu/China/HistoricBeijing/Forbidden_City/pages/250_ForbiddenCity.html

 

[adidaem]

Sources Part 2:

Good info on this site: http://www.cultural-china.com

A portrait via Wikipedia: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/19/Noblewoman5.jpg

Crown pics: http://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/phoenix-crowns/

Cixi pics were all over the place - was really an image search. Will rather delete than to search all over so if the mods are not comfortable pls go ahead and delete.

One last gem - highly recommend that you click to see this amazing snuff bottle made from a large baroque pearl. Good deal of info for history lovers too, e.g. that pearl necklace can only be worn by the emperor.
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/18456/lot/138/

 

[Amrita]

Thanks for all your hard work putting up the source websites, adidaem! That must have been a tedious job. Appreciated.

 

[Ash]

adidaem,

Thank you so much for all your hard work * posting the information & websites! they are wonderful! Goodness me. a pearl snuff bottle! Wonder if it would go with my MOP salt & pepper shakers... hmmm

Again I thank you! Wonderful stuff! Now off to read, play & learn more.

 

[cookierookie]

The hat toppers look amazing, they look like 24K pure gold.