Silver hairpin with a twisted stem and two frogs as a finial. Or perhaps they are toads as we are not aware of frogs having any auspicious meaning. A toad is one of the ‘Five Poisonous Animals’. Chinese people believe in the theory of combating poison with poison so charms in the shape of one of the Five Poisonous Creatures are seen as a protection against bad influences. The hairpin dates from the end of the Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 11.7 cm. Width 1.2 cm.