Hollow silver lock engraved with the characters ‘Chang Ming Fu Gui’ (长命富贵) which means ‘Long life and Prosperity’. On both sides of the text are ‘dragon fishes’ which are mythical creatures with a dragon’s head and a fish tail. In fact they were thought to be fish which transformed into dragons after passing the ‘Dragon’s gate’ and they symbolize a wish to be successful during the Civil Service Examinations and become a ‘High Official’. Also depicted are two heads of ruyi sceptres (All you wish for will come true). Hanging from the lock are four bells decorated with flowers as well as two dustpans. Dustpans were a symbolic tool for sweeping away evil spirits. The lock and chain date from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Total length 46 cm. Lock: Width 7.8 cm. Height 5.7 cm. Depth 1.0 cm.