332
62
76
83
354
139
77
103
137
142
147
140
63
117
94
125
69
70
92
71
67
78
145
136
128
111
131
343
75
110
106
89
132
88
108
134
118
87
322
119
100
126
95
122
133
79
382
113
127
85
91
72
130
129
121
65
84
228
229
73
314
315
124
81
120
101
123
138
115
93
385
112
Enamelled thumbring (2004.200.3)
ChinaEnamelled thumbring from China, Asia. Thought to have been collected by James Legge. Given to the Museum in 1897.
Chinese archers' thumbrings are simple cylinders of even thickness and thus quite different from the slim, tapered ones from Indo-Persia. This is a highly elaborate example made of cloisonné enamel and it represents the development away from the original functional ring into an item of jewellery, worn by fashionable Manchu men of the later 19th century. The symbols in the middle register are different versions of the character shou, meaning 'longevity'.