Silver gilt pair of earrings decorated with three Bats. Two of them are baby bats. When worn the Bats (Fu) on these earrings hang upside down (Dao) which is a pun ‘Blessings have arrived’ (fudao). The word Dao has two meanings. Firstly it means ‘upside down’ (dao) and secondly ‘arrived’ (dao). It is very well possible that these earrings were once embellished with feathers of the Kingfisher bird which was in fashion during the Qing Dynasty. The earrings date from the late Qing period (1644 – 1912). Total length 7.5 cm. Width 2.5 cm.