Small silver lock decorated on one side with an old man sitting in a garden with bamboo and a rock. He holds a fan in his hand. Is this one of the Eight Immortals (see Quick Find) called Han Zhongli who used his fan to wave the dead alive? The fan is a symbol of Longevity as are the Rock and the Bamboo. Bamboo also symbolizes Humility and Fidelity as well as Peace. The old man is flanked by two facing Dragons which are a pun ‘Happiness when meeting again’ (xi xiangfeng). On the other side of the lock are two characters Jiu Ru (九如) which mean ‘Congratulations to a long life’. The Plum flower with its five petals under the characters symbolizes the Five Blessings, Old age, Health, Wealth, Love of Virtue and a Peaceful death. Locks like this were worn as a pendant attached to a chain around the neck. Especially young children wore them as the locks were meant to chain the child to the earth and make it difficult for evil spirits to abduct it. But young married women also wore locks as jewelry. This one is still in good condition but has suffered some minor damage on the bottom. The lock is marked Ning (宁) which may have been the silversmith or the retailer and Zu Wen (足纹) for Pure silver. It dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Width 4.8 cm. Height 3.7 cm. Depth 1.8 cm. Weight 23.3 grams.