Pair of silver three-pronged hairpins which are decorated at the top with a Butterfly hovering over a Basket. The Butterfly symbolizes Blessings & Happiness and the Basket represents Longevity & Abundance. The basket contains a Finger Citron and Pomegranates which are a pun ‘May you get many sons who will continuously become First in the Civil Service Examinations’ (duozi lianyuan). Thirteen fine chains dangle from each pin. The hairpins date from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 15.5 cm.