Gilt Repoussé String of Charms

This curious Chinese jewelry chain dates to the early 20th century and is strung with an array of petite bells, charms and amulets. Worked of gilded silver alloy, the repoussé charms are laden with blessings and symbolism, including fruits for abundance, bats for happiness, and a lotus for perfection. The chain is strung with three larger charms of a horse, a donkey and a three-legged toad, the mythical creature known as the Jin Chan, or Money Toad, believed to bring luck and prosperity. Elevated by a custom steel mount, this storied jewelry chain lives on as a delicate sculptural object.

From the collection of Frances and Gary Comer.