Small silver lock decorated on one side with a Peony flower which symbolizes Wealth and Honor. On the other side of the lock are the characters ‘Bai Jia Suo’ (百家锁) which mean ‘Protected by a hundred families’. When a child was about three months old, it was usually given a silver, gold or jade amulet in the shape of a lock in the hope that the lock would tie the child down to prevent abduction by evil spirits. In some areas of China money would be donated by a hundred families to purchase a silver lock and consequently the child would then have the protection of these hundred families. This is such a lock. Plum flowers (Five Blessings) complement the picture. The lock dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Width 3.9 cm. Height 3.0 cm. Depth 1.9 cm. Weight 10 grams.