"Birds of a Feather" Spade Coin Pendant

January 2011
Sterling silver

The characters on this bold and intricate pendant read 比翼雙飛 (bǐyìshuāngfēi), which literally translate to "wing to wing, flying in pairs"—the Chinese equivalent of the phrase "birds of a feather." This traditional saying is used to describe a close romantic or even professional relationship between a man and a woman. The pendant is in the shape of a square-foot spade, a coin shape that was in use from the late Eastern Zhou Dynasty and into the Qin and Han Dynasties. The split feet of the coin evoke the shape of wings, allowing the form to reinforce the sentiment.

Dimensions: 0.75" x 1.5"
Sterling silver
Chain is included