Qing dynasty Emperors enjoyed falconry

"Ying huan zi" Falconry swivels from the Imperial Palace. Qing Dynasty, Imperial Palace falconers
In Qing dynasty, the Emperors employed a group of professional falconers to work for them. They were called the " Royal hawk and dog trainers"

The Emperors had their private falconry designers, both jewellery and leather craftsmen. When the Qing dynasty (the last of the dynasties) finished, some of the Emperors falconry equipment was taken out of the Palace by some Chinese families.
One eunuch took a number of Imperial swivels, later he sold them to a collector in Beijing.
This collector has 12 Royal swivels and has preserved them for his own collection. Our Chinese falconer friend borrowed 4 swivels from the collector, and had moulds made from each of the swivel designs. The following designs are available in brass, only one design has been made in silver because of the extra cost.

 

 

There are some poor copies of these designs used in Chinese falconry today but I have not seen any as ornate or as close a copy to the orginal ancient designs as these are.

Falconry Swivel from China
The Connected Lotus design is the most ornate of the swivels made for the Emperor.
Melon Swivel from China The Melon design has been produced in both brass and silver.
Small Falconry Chinese swivel The Two Grinding Stone design is produced here in a small version for sparrow hawks or merlins.
Chinese Emperor falconry swivel The Spiders Belly design is the largest of the four designs.
Chinese falconry jesses
Contact me with shipping address for Price List.
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