The Gambler Necklace

This necklace is created by using the lost wax casting method. I use different types of wax to create a bezel for an object. The pendant in this piece is a very rare and vintage carved Mother of Pearl Chinese Gambling token from the 1700’s, monogrammed with an ‘A’ on the back. The wax model is then casted into solid silver. Once the pendant is solid metal, it is annealed, all the extra bits of metal that are not part of the design are ground off and filed away, then oxidized, polished, and the coin is set.  For this design I chose a rustic look with darkened silver and simple granulation.  The pendant is strung on an adjustable 18” silver pearl strand.
Hand-carved in China between the 18th and early 19th centuries, these luminous mother-of-pearl tokens were originally created as gaming counters for export to the Western elite. Used in sophisticated card games such as Whist, Ombre, and Quadrille, they once passed across candlelit tables in the hands of European and American aristocracy.
Each piece was meticulously carved in Canton (now Guangzhou) from large mollusk shells using fine steel tools. Delicate scales, expressive eyes, and elegant silhouettes reveal the extraordinary craftsmanship of the artisans who created them.
The fish form carries deep symbolism in Chinese culture — representing luck, abundance, and shared prosperity — making these tokens meaningful beyond their original purpose. Many examples were commissioned by wealthy Western families and personalized with crests, coats of arms, or monograms, blending Eastern artistry with European identity.
Production declined after 1840 as gaming trends shifted, and today these tokens are highly sought-after collectibles. Whether preserved as a rare antique or thoughtfully reimagined into jewelry, each piece carries centuries of history, trade, symbolism, and story.
A small object with a grand past — luminous, storied, and timeless.