Lot 229: A Chinese White Metal Chatelaine with Grooming Tools, Marked 'Yu De Xiang'

A Chinese chatelaine, featuring an ornate, openwork clasp with intertwined motifs and a hook mechanism. A substantial chain extends from the clasp to a central decorative plaque, also with openwork designs of mythological creatures and stylized forms. From this plaque, three chains suspend spherical bells, and four longer chains terminate in a group of utilitarian implements, likely grooming tools such as ear picks or nail cleaners, each topped with an ornate finial. The reverse of the clasp bears the markings ‘足纹足银’ (Zú wén zú yín), translating to ‘Pure silver, full weight’ or ‘Sterling silver,’ alongside the maker’s mark ‘裕德祥记’ (Yù Dé Xiáng Jì), or ‘Yu De Xiang Shop/Mark.’