Hi Chris,

I am certain you already know it is a Chinese bead adapted for usage as a Kanzashi or Japanese hair ornament.

But it is #1. Mounted upside down. #2. Poorly attached. #3. Not nearly as fine in quality in material or craftsmanship as the hair pin.

When I see examples such as this, I feel sorry for the dealer who is confusing collectors with adaptations. At worst, it seems to me to be an attempt to fill a demand where there is precious little merchandise. I see it all of the time in the ojime market too. And, the kanzashi and obidome market is suffering in the same way.

Best regards,
Fred

These dragon/phoenix are really pretty crude, not even up to the level of skill expended on things like matchboxes. It's the mismatch between the bead and the nice kansazhi that makes this piece interesting. Is it an example of 1930s Japanese use of an "exotic" Chinese bead? Is it a marriage cooked up by some sketchy "antiques" dealer?