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I picked this up at a sale. I assume it is a 24k piece of gold foil. Can anyone tell me what the writing says and why it is made into a plaque? Ship on one side with writing about it, and the numbers 9999 on the back with writing next to it. Thanks for any help.

The characters read across from the right as "Yi fan feng shun", a Chinese wish meaning "May you have favorable winds in your sails". As is obvious, this originally was said to someone leaving on a journey by boat, but nowadays is offered as a blessing for "Smooth Sailing" to any friend or acquaintance who is departing on a journey, especially for a momentous reason, such as taking permanent leave of one place and friends for another location.

The embossed gold foil would have been a parting gift on such an occasion.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Thanks, Bill. Your responses are always very thorough. I am assuming that the back says that it is 9999 or 24k gold?

The term "Chun Jin" (純金) means "Pure Gold", but I think the purity of gold leaf, at least what's used to gild Buddhas in Asia, tends to max out around 22 karat. Claims of 9999 fine would be tough to test in an embossed item like your plaque.

Bill H.

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