CHINA: AE charm (21.82g), Semans-351, Ramsden-86, 50mm openwork figural type, young couple falling in love in the moonlight among flowers, VF-EF, 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.This charm is a pictorial representation of the ancient Chinese saying "hua qian yue xia" which literally translates as "in front of the flowers and under the moon". On the left is a man standing and pointing with his left hand at the moon. If you look carefully, you will see a crescent moon exactly at the 12 oclock position with curly-shaped clouds just below and to the sides. Standing on the right is a young woman with flowers shown both above and below the circular hole. Rhis type of charm was cast in ancient times in the city of Dali in Yunnan Province.
