Silver hairpin of the ‘ruyi-type’. ‘Ruyi’ means ‘As you wish’, in other words that everything should happen according to one’s wishes. The pin is decorated in openwork with a bat surrounded by plum blossoms. In Chinese art a bat is often, as in this case, shown upside down which means ‘Blessings have arrived’. Upside down (dao) is a pun on the word Arrived (dao). The Plum flower has five petals which are symbolic for the Five Blessings, Old age, Good health, Wealth, Love of virtue and a Peaceful death. The hairpin is not marked and dates from the end of the Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 9.3 cm. Width 2.5 cm.