Song Dynasty Miniature Pottery Jarlet figures luminous pear-shaped wedding beads—highly treasured

luminous pear-shaped wedding beads—highly treasured by Fulani women in Mali and traditionally given by mother to daughter as part of her wedding adornment

A vertically pierced lug handle provides both functionality and aesthetic symmetry

raw obsidian was shaped using deer antlers or small hammer stones

closely related to larger-scale stone sculptures and part of a broader repertoire that included deities

Song Dynasty Miniature Pottery Jarlet figures luminous pear-shaped wedding beads—highly treasuredSouthern Song Dynasty, 11271275 AD, China Exquisite Southern Song dynasty miniature pottery jarlet featuring a compressed globular body, sloping shoulders, a tapering base, and a raised neck, resting on a small ring foot, culminating in a practical yet aesthetically pleasing design, with the rich brownish yellow glaze that envelops the jarlet's upper portion, adding a subtle warmth to its visual appeal. During the Song dynasty, ceramic artistry