Cast in solid gold, this fingernail guard’s impressive weight distinguishes it from Chinese examples, which are typically made of light filigree work, allowing fingers a high degree of flexibility. Fingernail guards were popular among women of the Chinese Qing court in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as they were indicative of one’s noble status and exclusion from manual labour. This example is likely to be a unique ornament, commissioned at the whim of a wealthy individual.
