Pair of belt buckles in the shape of a bottle with the symbol double happiness (xi)

清代梮玉平瓶安如意椧喜圖帶涜

Officials during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) wore cumbersome belts decorated with many nephrite plaques. The Qing dynasty (1644–1912) Manchu rulers, with their nomadic origins, simplified matters by wearing narrow belts with decorative buckles.

These buckles were made separately. Each was carved with an open slot in the back for the thin belt to go through, and each piece was worked into the shape of a vase (ping, a pun for peace) with handles in the shape of wish-granting wands (ruyi). The character for "double happiness" (shuangxi) was worked in low relief on the body of the vase. Below the vase is a large loop (also in the shape of a ruyi) onto which the wearer could attach accessories.