A PAIR OF GOLD CHOPSTICKS MARK AND PERIOD OF CHENGHUA, DATED 1476

each with a hexagonal sectioned head collared with seven beads followed by a long tapering shaft of circular section, one of the facets of the head inscribed with a chenghua shiyi nian jiuyue, chengfensi zao jinzhu yishuang zhong sanliang, baqian, bafen ('Chenghua eleventh year corresponding to 1476, made by the Chengfensi Bureau, one pair of golden chopsticks, the weight three liang eight qian eight fen')

Inscribed gold eating utensils from the Ming Dynasty are not very common, as many were probably melted down and used for other ornaments.  Compare two pairs of similar inscribed gold chopsticks found in the tomb of Prince Liang Zhuangwang, from the Yongle period, illustrated in Mausoleum of Prince Liang Zhuangwang, Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Beijing, 2007, p. 25, figs. 1-4.  Another pair of chopsticks from the Wanli period are illustrated in Gold and Silver Wares, Beijing Municipal Board of Cultural Relics, Beijing, 1999, pl. 171.  A related ladle with the same type of beading from the Xuande period is also illustrated in ibid. p. 46.