西漢 包金螭龍形銀帶鈎|Belt Hook in the Shape of a Sinuous Creature
Unknown Artist
Medium
Silver with gold foil
Dimensions
L. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm); H. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture & Period
China · Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 9)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Ernest Erickson Foundation, 1985
Accession Number
1985.214.69
Art Historical Context
This stunning belt hook, crafted during China's Western Han dynasty (206.C.–A.D. 9), exemplifies the era's masterful metalwork and elite craftsmanship. Shaped as a sinuous mythical creature chilong dragon—measuring 6⅛ inches long and 1⅛ inches high, it was made of silver overlaid with gold foil (known as *baojin* technique). Such hooks fastened wide silk belts worn by the aristocracy, blending everyday utility with luxurious artistry. In Han society, belt hooks were status symbols, often buried in tombs to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. The chilong, a hornless dragon with coiled, ...