This rare Mandarin square, made before the 1870s and probably circa the early to mid 19th century, features the five clawed dragon as its rank motif. The use of the five clawed dragon was traditionally restricted to the imperial family, with the forward facing version generally to princes of the second rank and above.
Embroidered on silk gauze using seed stitch (also known as the forbidden stitch, blind stitch, Peki ...click for details
Approximately 3.5"x3", this bronze axe head comes from Thanh Hoa province. Made by the Dong Son culture, a Red River based culture renownes as some of the earliest skilled bronze manufacturers of Asia.
