Lacquered wooden ornament depicting a high official holding a ‘hu’, a court tablet which would allow him to enter the imperial palace. The combination of an official and a boy leads to the rebus ‘Leading one’s son to court’ (daizi shangchao) which expresses the hope that the son may become an high official just like his father. The boy is holding a flute which is a rebus for ‘Rising high’ (jiejie gaoxing), The horse symbolizes ‘Peace’ because messengers on horseback brought peaceful tidings. This ornament once formed part of a piece of furniture or bed and dates from the late Qing period (1644 – 1912) or early Republic (1912 – 1947). Height 14.5 cm. Width 8.5 cm. Depth 3 cm.