Unusually Fine Chinese Enamelled Silver Lock Pendant

This fine Chinese ruyi-shaped silver ‘lock’ pendant has been chased with a central scene of three tall figures dressed elegantly in court costume surrounded by a double-floral border and decorated with blue, green and red enamel. (Most such locks were not decorated with enamel.)

The central figure is a man and holds a fan suggestive of his scholarship and position. The figure on the right is his wife or wife-to-be. The figure on the left is female and holds a teapot and so is likely a servant.

The pendant is further decorated with a pair of butterflies, sprays of pomegranates and plum blossoms.

Such lock pendants were worn on torques around the neck and were believed to ‘lock’ in fortune and good health as well as ward off danger and harm.

This example with couple and servant, its pair of butterflies and pomegranates is suggestive of marriage and fertility and so almost certainly was a costly gift given in conjunction with a wedding ceremony.

This example does not have a backing plate as most do but Duda (2002, p. 35) surmises that a sufficient number have been founded without backs and with rounded edges suggesting that they were not intended to have a backing plate.

Lock pendants evolved in China with their initial use for babies for the first month of life, They would be put around a baby’s neck to ‘lock’ the child to earth, ie to help prevent infant mortality. Later, larger locks were made for other ritualised purposes such as for weddings and graduations.

The pendant is in excellent condition. It is far finer than most extant examples.