Square silver pendant decorated on both sides with texts. According to the person who sold this pendant and two similar ones to us, this is definitely a lock but also serves as an amulet. We have not yet been able to find a comparable piece so we accept his opinion. The lock originates in Fujian and has the following characters on one side ‘Nanhai Fuzu’ which means ‘God of the South Sea’ and the other side ‘Chifu Wangling’. ‘Chi fu’ means ‘Chi family’ and ‘Wangling’ means ‘By order of the King’. The border of this Amulet-lock is decorated with Bamboo (humility & fidelity) leaves and Plum flowers (Five Blessings) which are two of the Three Friends of Winter’. Also depicted are Cymbidium flowers (Friendship & Grandchildren), One of the three attached small bells seems to have been replaced. The bells depict a Pomegranate (Many children), a Peach (Longevity) and a Bamboo shoot (Grandsons). The lock is not marked but of heavy quality. It dates from the late Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). Width 3.4 cm. Height 2.6 cm. Depth 0.55 cm. Weight 18.8 grams.