Gilt silver hairpin which is decorated with a bat. The word ‘Bat’ (fu) has the same sound as the words for Blessings (fu) and Riches (fu). The bat is usually depicted upside down (dao) which leads to a pun for the word ‘Arrived’ (dao). An upside down bat therefore leads to the saying ‘Blessings have arrived’. In front of the bat on this hairpin is a small roundel but we cannot figure out what it depicts. At the back of the hairpin is a hallmark which we can’t decipher. The gilding of the pin is rubbed as a result of its long use. It dates from the end of the Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 10.6 cm. Width 1.3 cm.