{"product_id":"sold-27g-22ct-gold-chinese-abacus-pendant","title":"Sold — Chinese Abacus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold for AUD 5,000.\u003c\/strong\u003e This piece is kept in the archive and is no longer available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA substantial Chinese abacus pendant in \u003cstrong\u003e22ct gold\u003c\/strong\u003e, weighing \u003cstrong\u003e27.0g\u003c\/strong\u003e. Twin dragons frame six rows of movable beads, with small red accents at the eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe abacus and its role\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown in China as the \u003cem\u003esuanpan\u003c\/em\u003e, the abacus is a calculating instrument with beads moving along rods. It belonged to the practical world of arithmetic and commerce; the Smithsonian records its long use as a computing device and in business. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/americanhistory.si.edu\/collections\/object-groups\/the-abacus-the-numeral-frame-and-counters\/the-chinese-abacus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eRead the Smithsonian’s history of the Chinese abacus\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn this pendant, calculation becomes ornament. The motif can suggest commercial skill, careful judgement and prosperity, but it should not be treated as a promise of wealth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe dragons\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChinese dragons have carried associations with water, protection, imperial authority and auspicious power in different periods and settings. Here they frame and guard the abacus. Their exact intended meaning is not documented, so the reading remains contextual rather than certain. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/resources.metmuseum.org\/resources\/metpublications\/pdf\/The_Dragon_and_the_Pearl_The_Metropolitan_Museum_Journal_v_26_1991.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eThe Met discusses the Chinese dragon as a benevolent bringer of rain and life\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePotential provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece was recorded as made in \u003cstrong\u003eChina\u003c\/strong\u003e. No maker, workshop or production date is documented, so a more precise attribution cannot be made from the motif alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGold and archive value\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 22ct nominal fineness, the 27.0g gross weight gives a theoretical fine-gold equivalent of approximately \u003cstrong\u003e24.75g\u003c\/strong\u003e, before allowing for the bead mechanism, accents, solder or other non-gold components. This is not a recoverable melt-value calculation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sold\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold price:\u003c\/strong\u003e AUD 5,000\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin recorded:\u003c\/strong\u003e China\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e 22ct gold\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 27.0g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMotif:\u003c\/strong\u003e Abacus with twin dragons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Les Trésors de Victoire","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52862202446136,"sku":"SOLD-ABACUS-22CT-27G","price":5000.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1008\/1409\/4648\/files\/sold-abacus-22ct-hero-v-stamp-v3.png?v=1788254193","url":"https:\/\/lestresorsdevictoire.com\/products\/sold-27g-22ct-gold-chinese-abacus-pendant","provider":"Les Tresors de Victoire","version":"1.0","type":"link"}