CHINA: AE charm (42.96g), Semans-354, Ramsden-94, Mandel-8.1, 59mm openwork figural type, with a Confucian filial piety theme, F-VF, ex Jürgen M. Wilmes Collection. "Open-work" charms are one of the major types of ancient Chinese charms. They are referred to in Chinese as lou kong qian "hollowed out" money and ling long qian "elegant" money. Chinese open work charms have irregular shaped "openings" between their exquisite design elements. They are round and almost always have a round hole in the center. Openwork charms became very popular and were often worn for personal adornment during the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties.Filial piety refers to the respect of a child for his parents. This charm displays four stories from "The Twenty-Four Examples of Filial Piety" (ershisixiao) which is one of the most famous historical collections of stories concerning how children displayed filial piety.The Queen Mother of the West is associated with longevity because eating a peach from her orchard would allow a person to live for 3,000 years. The deer is believed to live a long life and is, therefore, a symbol of longevity. The deer thus also signifies wealth and good fortune. The tortoise is another natural symbol for a long life. The "auspicious cloud" symbolizes "good luck" and the cranes yet another ancient Chinese symbol for longevity.

Estimate: USD 125 - 225