Embossed silver ring decorated with a Magpie and Plum flowers. This is a popular motif in China and represents the saying 'May your joy reach as high as your eyebrows (Xishang meishao)'. The magpie (xique) is a bird of joy and the plum (mei) is a pun for 'eyebrows' while the top of the plum tree (mei shao) is a pun for 'top of one's eyebrows'. The ring dates from the late Qing period (1644 – 1912). Diameter 2.2 cm. Width 1.9 cm.