Silver Hairpins of Ancient China

Stephen Tai
Apr.15, 1998

	1. Size: 92 (L) x 9 (W) mm. Weight: 18.5 g (5 maces) Reverse inscription: Sung Mao [Name of Silver Shop]
	2. Size: 54 (L) x 17 (W) mm. Weight: 9.5 g (2.5 maces) Inscription: None (The shape of such hairpin is as of a Chinese character Shou, which means Longevity)
	3. Size: 101 (L) x 9 (W) mm. Weight: 18.4 g (5 maces) Inscription: None
	4. Size: 61 (L) x 7 (W) mm. Weight: 9.4 g (2.5 maces) Inscription: Chen Kao ? [Name of Silversmith] at the reverse

In Ancient China women were bound by social norms and not possible to own too many valuable assets, except for some women's accessories, such as the above hairpins made of silver.
It was customary for Chinese parents to give their daughter who is going to be married, with valuable presents as dowry which women's accessories would be included almost without exception. For a rich family those presents made of silver or gold were more preferable.
Some elder women would receive silver accessories, such as #2 hairpin featured in a character of Shou (Longevity), as their birthday presents
It was customary, too, for a Chinese woman to buy in some silver accessories, as long as they saved certain amount of money in secret. It was for three reasons:
1. To decorate herself
2. For the need of a rainy day
3. to avoid from the depreciation of legal tenders.
For the average women who not being rich, were more stressed on (2), (3).
Therefore, for most Chinese women, the purity of silver in their accessories was as important as sycee's. They all knew that someday they might have to use them just like using sycee as currency. Silver shops or silversmiths who made silver accessories were used to endorse their names onto their artworks so as to guarantee the quality and purity of silver as well, to serve their customers' need (such as #1, #4).
The artworks of silver hairpins of ancient China were varying from one to another, some were sophisticated carved (such as #1), some simply streamed-lined and without further decoration (such as #3). Their being were all related to the financial capability of their owners.
In 1930's, it was mandatory for the fineness of silverware not to be in excess of 30%, hence, some hairpins were made of less silver (#4).

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