Metal Gourd Fu Plaque Tassel Bracelet Charm

A fortune plaque, a tassel and a chain, sold strung together. Six styles, each a different tail, for a bracelet or a bag. None is long; a short length hangs down and does not trail on the ground. Chain and tassel are joined by a small ring with a gap in it, so they can be taken apart and one chain can carry different tails. The six can be bought singly or together, and if together, mind the chain lengths: two the same length hung side by side will fight. Decide where it is going before you buy; a bag charm and a bracelet charm are not cut to the same length.

The bowl-and-shovel tassel is a bowl with a shovel, hung above the tassel; the coin chain links square-holed coins one after another; the gourd ji dangle is a single gourd; the gourd chain end puts the gourd at the end of the chain; the gourd-and-plaque chain strings plaque and gourd together; the leaf dangle is a leaf shape. The names are plain and match the pictures without guessing. The bowl-and-shovel style has the most parts — bowl, shovel, tassel — and its weight sits lowest, so it hangs straight.

Coins, gourds and fortune plaques are the commonest combination in folk hanging ornaments. The square-holed coin stands for money, the gourd for fortune and salary, the plaque for the word on its face. Put the three together and the sentence is complete: those who do not care for such things see something lively, those who do see the sense in it. Traders like them, and what they want is something that looks well on the surface. The character on the plaque is raised, with a rim standing round the edge, so a fingertip finds the outline. The back is flat and does not press on the skin.

Metal, with a bright surface. A chain has many links, sweat collects in the gaps, and in time it dulls. To wash it, put the whole thing in warm water, swill it, take it out and blot it dry; do not hang it up wet, since water runs down the links and gathers at the lower end. Keep the tassel out of water: soaked thread goes soft, and soft it will not hang, and the shape goes. A chain loses its colour with long wear, starting at the links that rub most, and under it is the metal's own tone, yellow or grey depending on the batch.

The tassel hangs and swings as you walk. The strands are long and catch easily, so keep them out of a zip when the charm is on a bag. Thread fringe furrs with use; trim it level with scissors rather than burning it, since a burnt end goes hard and scratches. The tassel looks better a little apart in colour from the metal; too close and the whole thing blurs into one tone. There are many strands, a small handful spread out and closed in the palm. A long tassel can be cut, and the cut ends should be twisted tight so they do not come undone.