Silver spoon-shaped hairpin decorated in detail with magpies and branches of plum flowers. Magpies (xique) and plum blossoms (mei) result in the pun ‘May your joy reach up to your eyebrows’ (xishang meishao). Plum flowers represent the Five Blessings (see 4093) and magpies symbolize Joy & Happiness. The hairpin is not hallmarked and dates from the end of the Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 8.2 cm. Width 2.1 cm.