Silver pendant shaped as a baby Boy who carries a Lotus flower over his shoulder. This small pendant was most probably a wedding gift. A boy carrying a Lotus is a pun ‘May you continuously give birth to Distinguished sons’ (liansheng guizi). The boy implies the wish for a son and the lotus (lian) means Continuous (lian). On his back is a coin attached to a ribbon expressing a wish for Wealth. His ´dou dou´ or undergarment is decorated with Plum flowers. The five petals of a Plum flower symbolize the Five Blessings, Old age, Health, Wealth, Love of Virtue and a Peaceful death. In Chinese culture the absence of sons was a disaster. Wearing a small charm in the shape of a baby boy was supposed to ensure the arrival of a son. This unmarked figure dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 5.8 cm. Width 2.4 cm. Depth 1.0 cm.