This exquisite Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) bronze ram may be small – no bigger than a fist – but it’s a true marvel of craftsmanship. It is decorated with intricate “curly wool” patterns, which were created using the gold and silver inlay technique. The fine gold and silver threads form delicate and hair-thin swirls that shimmer with golden brilliance.

Besides its beauty, the ram is assumed to serve as a seat mat weight, used to keep mats in place by anchoring the corners. Unearthed in 1974 in Pengyang county, Guyuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, this piece from the collection of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum is a perfect blend of artistry and functionality. 

Gold and silver inlaid bronze ram in a lying and backward-looking pose, Han Dynasty, from the collection of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum [Photo/Official WeChat account of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum]