A RARE FORMAL JADE COURT NECKLACE China, late Qing dynasty L. 104 cm A court necklace, or chaozhu, strung on a silk, the 108 light green jade beads are divided into four equal sections of 27 beads separated by frour large dividing agate beads called 'Buddha heads' or 'futou'. The four intervals symbolise the four quarters of the year, which in turn has 12 months, 24 solar terms or 'joint and breaths' of the year, and 72 'hou', or five day periods. When worn, a long counterweight extended down the back from the 'Buddha head' called 'back cloud' or 'beiyun', The Necklace with three attached strings each of ten smaller 'memory' beads, called 'jinian', each representing one ten day period or 'xun', since a month was comprised of 30 days or three 'xun'. The necklace was worn on top of all other court garments, even the outer surcoat and collar. South German private collection, according to the previous owners acquired from the collection of Ernst Arthur Voretzsch (1868 - 1965) by a family member Minor traces of age, one pendant with a short crack