19th Century Heidao Monkey Pendant star sapphire dangling freely from a row

dangling freely from a row of 19 graduated diamonds in millegrain bezel settings (total diamond weight: 7

and opens to reveal enamelled pips and a round locket compartment inside

The mother of pearl has a gorgeous iridescent sheen as it moves through the light (which is proving quite tricky to capture with the camera)

crafted in 9 karat gold with the subject rendered on bone over black leather and protected behind a convex glass front

19th Century Heidao Monkey Pendant star sapphire dangling freely from a rowDATE: Victorian, c. 1850 Known as heidao, the art of carving nuts and fruit pits into intricate three dimensional beads flourished during the Qing period (1644 1911), with artists continually trying to better themselves and their contemporaries both. Subjects would include the Chinese zodiac, Buddha, sages, animals, scenes from nature or legend, and they would typically use apricot kernels, peach, coquilla, or olive pits, walnuts, or myrica rubra