Rubellite and Jadeite Pendant, late Qing | 紅碧璽 配 天然翡翠 吊墜, 晚清

Rubellites were one of the favorite gemstones of Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty. Squirrels, called songshu in China, shares the syllable song with pine, a symbol of longevity. Peaches also bear a strong association with longevity, including the peaches of immortality in Chinese mythology.

紅碧璽是慈禧太后最喜愛的寶石之一。在中國文化中，松鼠與松樹的「松」諧音，為長壽的象徵。白桃亦意味延年益壽，例如中國神話中，令人食後長生不老的仙桃。