18K yellow gold necklace comprised of pierced oval links. The necklace tests 18K and has Chinese chop marks on the clasp. The necklace is 28" L and has a weight of 42.09 grams. Note: Descended through the Rawlings family and originally collected by Sara Emily Perkins (1892 – 1969) who was born in Tennville, GA. Orphaned at an early age, Sara lived with her unmarried sister Gertrude, a public health nurse in Charleston. She studied at Bessie Tift College and Washington College of Music. In 1922 she sailed for China to begin a course in nursing at the Peking Union Medical College; she graduated with an RN equivalency in 1925. In 1926 Perkins applied to the Board of Foreign Missions (PCUSA). She was assigned to the Douw Hospital in Peiping. She served that hospital for nearly twenty years, eventually becoming Superintendent of Nurses. She was imprisoned by the invading Japanese for six months in 1942-43. Once freed, she resumed her hospital work. In 1951 she was arrested and imprisoned by the Chinese communists. She was freed in 1955 and retired from missionary service two years later. After Sara died, Gertrude lived with Mary Rawlings (1897-1996), aunt to the consignor (https://www.history.pcusa.org/collections/research-tools/guides-archival-collections/rg-352 and Perkins autobiography, Red China Prisoner).

PROVENANCE: The Collection of Dr. Joe Newsom Rawlings, Davisboro, Georgia. Additional provenance information in description.

CONDITION: Slight damage to safety clasp, otherwise overall good condition.