Chinese Woodblock Charm Bracelet

Description

Our charming sterling silver bracelet was developed from the elaborate raised patterns on a seventeenth- or eighteenth-century Chinese textile woodblock. This wooden panel, one of 30 in the Museum’s collection, is carved with intricate medallion patterns. Blocks such as these were originally used in China to execute textile designs, traditionally to make blue-and-white cottons, which were printed with indigo dye.

Sterling silver. 7 1/4''L. Lobster claw closure.

Art History

The Museum’s collection of Chinese art includes paintings, sculptures, metalwork, ceramics, lacquers, textiles, and other decorative arts. Woodblocks with carved patterns were originally developed for creating textile imprints on cotton. Notably, the raised part of the block would be coated with a resist agent, usually a paste; thus in an indigo- dyed cotton, the part corresponding to the raised areas of the block would be white, having resisted the dye, while the rest of the textile would be dark blue. Chinese cloth printed with this time-honored method is also in the Museum’s collection.