18th century Of rectangular form, intricately carved on both sides, one side carved with a lady playing qin on a waisted table in a hall surrounded by rocks and plantain leaves through the vermillion layer to the creamy-white ground, the reserve carved with two ladies walking in a garden. 4.4cm (1 3/4in) highFootnotes十八世紀 南紅瑪瑙巧雕仕女操琴吊墜 The qin was a stringed instrument mainly practised by male scholars in ancient China, however, females from the higher class also had the chance to learn this musical instrument, and they might only play qin in front of female family members or friends. 長方形，一面巧雕仕女操琴於室，衣衫為紅色，其餘為乳白色，質地透潤，兩側以紅色蕉石作邊，另一面巧雕二仕女緩步而行，衣衫亦作紅色，餘為乳白。此雕件構思巧妙，運用南紅紅白之色鋪排畫面，立體自然，匠心獨運。 彈琴一事本為古代文士所獨操，而閨門之中亦機會學習操縵，惟仕女操琴多在家人友人面前而已。