Silver hairpin which is decorated with a crab holding a stalk of grain. The combination is a pun for ‘May you have a harmonious marriage year after year’ (suisui hexie). Grain (he) and harmony (he) are pronounced in the same way. The crab (xie) also symbolizes Harmony and an ear of grain (sui) sounds like ‘year’ (sui). This shape of this type of hairpin reminds one of a ruyi scepter. ‘Ruyi’ represents a wish ‘may you get everything you wish for’. The hairpin is not hallmarked and dates from the end of the Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 9.5 cm. Width 3.0 cm.