Hair Ornament

Art Historical Context

This delicate silver hair ornament, created in China during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) or shortly thereafter, exemplifies the refined personal adornments favored by women of the period Measuring just under two inches in diameter, the circular piece would have been secured in elaborate hairstyles, adding a subtle gleam to daily or ceremonial dress. Its classification as jewelry from the Asian Art department highlights the Metropolitan Museum’s commitment to preserving such intimate artifacts that reveal everyday elegance in Chinese material culture. Although the artist remains unknown, the ornament’s insect motifs connect it to longstanding Chinese artistic traditions that drew inspiration from the natural world. Silver, prized for its luster and workability, allowed artisans to create lightweight yet durable pieces suitable for intricate designs. Acquired by the museum through the Fletcher Fund in 1925, this small object offers visitors a tangible link to Ming-era aesthetics, where even functional accessories carried symbolic weight and demonstrated skilled metalworking traditions passed down through generations.