Two silvered nail covers, Qing dynasty, 19th Century. Richly decorated with pearls, enamels, and different stones [2425 x 4320]

Fingernail guards were worn by high ranking Chinese women during the latter half of the 19th century. Long fingernails were a mark of high status indicating that one did not have to engage in manual labor, and in order to protect the nails from breaking Qing noblewomen wore metal guards. The guards were very often worn in pairs, one on the little finger and another on the ring finger. Nail guards were usually made from metals or shells, sometimes also jade. Historical artifacts show that they are usually made of gold, silver, bronze, or gilded metal, and embedded with pearls, precious stones or kingfisher feather. The length can be anywhere from 3cm to 15cm.

There’s always a mean character in most Chinese palace/harem drama shows who wears these and it’s always amazing.  If you see a baddie with metal witch nails do *not* get in her way.