Highly unusual gilt silver hat ornament with a small compass in the centre. It is almost certain that it did not serve as a compass because there are no geographic directions on it. The attractiveness lies in the fact that it moves during walking. The ornament is embellished with kingfisher feathers which have partly been lost over time. It is interesting to know that the magnetic compass was first invented in China as a device for divination as early as the Han Dynasty (since about 206 BC) and that it was later adopted for navigation In the eleventh century during the Song Dynasty. It dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947) and is in good working condition. Width 2.7 cm. Height 2.3 cm. Depth 0.8 cm.