What at first glance look like a boy with a halo is in fact a vase. A boy in front raises one arm and sits on an unknown object. The combination of a boy with a vase symbolizes ‘Peace’ and a wish to get many sons. We believe that the vase originally contained something as testified by the hollow tube. This may have been a coral branch as coral was very popular at the time. The ‘stem’ of the hairpin does not look like silver and may be silver plated. However, there is an illegible impression on it which looks like a mark so we may be mistaken. It dates from the end of the Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 12.5 cm. Width 1.8 cm.