Charming gilt silver pendant in the shape of a smiling boy riding a qilin. The Qilin is a mythical creature, sometimes called a unicorn in the western world. A boy riding on a qilin is a pun ‘May the Qilin bring you a son’ (qilin songzi). The boy is wearing the crown and the long gown of a First Candidate during the Civil Service Exams. This pendant doesn’t have much weight but it is made in great detail and is in excellent condition. The qilin tramples on a Chess Board and Books which belong to the ‘Four Scholarly Pursuits’ and represent the wish to become a Scholar. There is also an unknown object which may be a primitive depiction of a Bat which symbolizes Blessings and Riches. The silver still shows traces of the original gilding. It dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period ( 1912 – 1947).Width 9.4 cm. Height 9.8 cm. Depth 1.9 cm. Weight 30 grams. The pendant went to a collector in Hong Kong.