Silver needle case in the shape of a smiling boy. We don’t know what he is sitting on but it serves as a perfect container for the tubular needle holder inside. At the bottom of the chain dangles a Drum (frightening away evil spirits) decorated with a Plum flower (Five Blessings, see QF 8258). The needle case is not marked and dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Total length including hook 27.5 cm. Boy length 5.9 cm. Width 2.0 cm. Depth 2.1 cm.