Silver hat ornament in the shape of a smiling old man standing on a cloud. He seems to be wearing a fly whisk in his hand which identifies him as Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals. The details of this small solid object are very fine. Most hat ornaments depict the Eight Immortals and occasionally the God of Longevity, Shou Lao. They were usually sewn on the front of children’s hats as amulets but some of the more elaborate ones, sometimes adorned with kingfisher feathers, once graced the hats and clothing of women belonging to the upper classes. This one dates from the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). Height 3.7 cm. Width 1.7 cm. Depth 1 cm.