Chinese gilt silver tourmaline fingernail brooch
Length: 3"

Chinese Fingernail Guards
(source: chineseantiques.co.uk) The Chinese fingernail guard came from the time of the Qing dynasty. For having long fingernails was a sign of power and beauty and wearing fingernail guards protected the nails.

Nail guards were usually made from metals or shells, sometimes also jade. Often made of gold, silver, bronze, or gilded metal, and embedded with pearls and precious stones. The length can be anywhere from 3cm to 15cm depending on how long the wearer wishes it to be.

The fingernail guard would be worn as a single piece, or in pairs. They were worn by the elite of the Manchurian court ladies, of the latter part of the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1912).

Late Qing rulers pursued a life of great luxury, and a lady took great care to emphasize her nails, for they were a sign of her ability to rely on her servants and to show she did not perform manual tasks. Usually they were worn on the little finger and the ring finger.

Nail guards could be worn on one hand only, or on both hands; the latter would signal the wearer’s higher status as it shows they do not need to use either of their hands.

Good condition overall