Heavily gilt silver hairpin of the ‘ruyi-type’ which is embossed in openwork with a boy sitting on a saddled creature called a ‘Qilin’. A ‘qilin’ is a mythological animal with the body of a deer with scales, the tail of an ox, hooves of a horse and antlers, which had the same role as the stork (which delivers babies) in the Western world. A boy riding a qilin is a pun for ‘May the Qilin bring you a son’ (qilin songzi). The boy has a Ruyi scepter in his hand which symbolizes that everything a person wishes for will come true. A decoration on the top looks like a bat which represents Blessings & Riches. The ‘stem’ of the hairpin is decorated with Peaches (Longevity), Cymbidium blossom (Friendship & Grandchildren), Bats (Blessings & Riches) and Plum flowers which with their five petals represent The Five Blessings, Wealth, Health, Longevity, Love of Virtue and a Peaceful Death. The back side of the top part is also decorated with Plum flowers in openwork. The hairpin is marked Xin Yuan He (信元和 ) who may have been the silversmith or retailer and dates from the end of the Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 13 cm. Width 3 cm.