Embossed and engraved silver pendant inscribed on a tablet with the characters ‘Zheng Yuan Gi Di’ (High position after examinations). Apparently a well-wisher gave this amulet to someone who had to go through the official Civil Service Exams. The tablet is surrounded by Good Luck symbols such as Two Fishes (Abundance) and a Water Caltrop (ling), sometimes called water chestnut (which it is not), which resembles the shape of a Bat and therefore, like the bat, symbolizes blessings. The word ‘Ling’ (water caltrop) is homophonous with the word ‘Clever’ (Ling). The tablet rests on a Lotus flower (Continuous Harmony). Three animals, a Rooster (High Rank), a Dog (Fidelity) and a Goose (Rank badge of civil officials of the third grade), dangle from short chains at the bottom of the pendant. It dates from the late Qing period (1644 – 1912). Total length 12 cm. Tablet height 5.5 cm. Width 3.6 cm.