Fu Dehong was delighted to find the jade feather holders - not just one, but several - in a Beijing antique market. The Taiwanese businessman frequently visits Beijing because of his joint-venture project in the capital.
Born and educated on the mainland, Mr Fu has a trained eye for Chinese antiques, especially items related to the history of the capital.
The tiny jade feather holders which fascinated Mr Fu were used as hat ornaments by Qing dynasty bureaucrats. The colour and quality of the jade denoted the rank of the official who wore it.
These items can only be found in Beijing, whose imperial history enriched its treasures and makes it an ancient cultural heartland.
Mr Fu says the feather holders, costing from 100 yuan (HK$94) to a few hundred yuan, are coveted by collectors because they are limited and have much history attached to them. 'Each has an interesting story of the person who used it,' the collector says.
Other than regular China antique items such as porcelains and furniture, Beijing's antique market is said to have more items related to its rich history and imperial tradition than any other city in China.