KINGFISHER JEWELRY

Some of the most breathtaking blue jewellery ever created was made with Kingfisher feathers. And yes, I mean feathers from the actual bird. So for more than 2,000 years, Chinese artisans practice a technique called Diancui, which translates to dotting with kingfisher. And these pieces became associated with some of the most elaborate jewelry of the imperial court. It worked by taking the bright blue feathers of the kingfisher, cutting them into tiny sections, then applying tiny sections into intricate metal framework. Feathers themselves have what's known as structural colour, meaning they reflect light to create this blue colour that shifts and glows as it moves. It stays bright and vividly coloured for centuries and is almost impossible to replicate artificially. The technique was used to create everything from delicate hair pins, brooches and other as well as some of the most elaborate headdresses you've ever seen, often combining the feathers with coral, pearls and other precious gemstones. And by the Ching dynasty, these pieces had become powerful symbols of wealth and status. But the art form came at a significant and obviously begs an ethical question, since it required real kingfisher feathers. And the demand for these elaborate pieces contributed with huge numbers of those birds being The industry did eventually disappear with the last workshop closing in 1933. And kingfishers are now a protected species in China. Many D&S pieces remain in museum collections today. And like them or not, they are an incredible example of how imaginative jewellery can be when you think beyond traditional materials. But I'm curious, what do you think of these pieces and how they were made? And had you heard of this technique before?