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I need help identifying some old Chinese nut carving beads. I think they are either olive or nut pits. A local expert was unable to age or identify them. There are a total of 9 beads, one of them a tassle bead. One of the beads has 50 tiny men carved, with the faces smaller than a grain of rice. They are all around 1" or less. Any identification and/or appraisal help you can give me would be appreciated!

Probably peach pits.

Wearable strand of well-carved such beads, perfect condition, would not be found sold for as much as US$50.

Good luck,
Cal

these look good. they're normally peach pits, the peach symbolic of longevity in popular Daoism. well carved, maybe 100 years old.

The mystery continues! I have possible partial identification. Qing, older rather than newer, Chinese Olive pits. I would love to find someone in the Minneapolis area to take them to for hands-on appraisal. Any ideas?

not olives, peaches. Qing may be a bit optimistic. Try the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

I was on here looking up the information for the "seed or nut" beads I have. They are very Similar to the ones you have, Cal.. Mine had belonged to my grandmother and were made into a necklace and ear-rings..Please post any information you find.. I would be much appreciative

I have not found much, other than what I have posted. I am still trying to find someone in the Minneapolis area to do an auction house type appraisal without charging a lot up front. If they are only worth a few hundred dollars, I will probably keep them. Good Luck! Please post if you find anything else out there.

The beads are definitely at least 19th century and could be a bit earlier. They are good quality carving and definitely worth more than the 50 dollars mentioned, why do people value things about which they have no knowledge.

Hello!

I have tried to e-mail you at riveroheasant@hitmail.co.uk but it won't go through. I would like to send you more detailed photos of all the beads, and speak with you about a valuation if possible. Please reply at nutbeads@yahoo.com. Thank you!

I aggree with your statement. But how do you know age would be 19th century (that is 18xx) or earlier? Would be very much interested in the relevant criterions.
Thanks for your reply,

Hello there!
Your beads are from a tree called Canarium pimela, which the Chinese call "olive". Carvers were from Beijing area and further south at Suzhou area, where there are still carvers. The design of yours I yet have not seen though I have a collection of about 2000 beads (as single, bracelet =8 or necklace =18 beads.
I have sumarized all my knowledge about these carvings incl. several visits to the carvers in a book of 198 pages with about 500 pictures. Obviously no publisher is interested in it and I'm not interested in selling books.
If you are more interested in information please let me know. If you want to see pictures of my own (jpg-Format) let me know how to do it.
Regards
Roland

I'd like to see them. Have you thought about publishing a condensed version of your research in Arts of Asia? I think this is exactly the sort of minor art that they excel at bringing to public notice.

Thank you so much for your replies! I am taking better photos and will post them soon. They are magnificent beads and I do appreciate your interest and opinions. More soon!

As an oldy I obviously have problems to check who is sending messages to whome. Was the message that you like to see pictures for me or for Rob? Is Arts of Asia a gallery at Hong Kong or something else?
So far my "research" is concerned, I was in close contact with British Museum, Botanical Garden Kew / London, Sotheby's, The National Palace Museum / Taipei etc. up to Asian Art Museum San Fanzisco (Ms. T.T.Bartholomew)who as well confirmed that there is no English book about this seed carvings. (I was a bit proud that she, as a retired curator of that museum, classified my booklet as a reference for future pubilcations).
I am updating my book, though I still don't know whom to address with it (how detailed e.g. should be the informations about Chinese's believes, prices of these objects, how the carvings are done (instruments), where the carvers are to-day etc./etc.)
As to your information most of the volume are pictures/fotos, so condensing would be difficult.

If you give some more information on yourself (collector, just interested, Gallery, publisher ?) I possibly could give better answer.
Roland

for you. Arts of Asia is a thing glossy monthly magazine published in Hong Kong, used to be by Thuyet Nyugen (sp?) but I'm not sure who runs it now. I am a random guy with a passion for Chinese paintings who tries to collect them as well as scholar's objects when I have a few spare coins. It would be worth publishing something on this topic as your contact already mentioned. I'll email you off list if you like. Would like to help you with it if you want help with writing or just a reader.

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