Palm-sized gold ornament reflects pinnacle of metalwork over 2,000 years ago

This Warring States Period (475-221 BC) gold ornament, crafted from gold foils using round carving, openwork and relief techniques, features a deer-like creature with two branched and spiral horns. Its mouth resembles that of an eagle and it stands gracefully on a flower-shaped base. Intricate spiral cloud patterns spread the body.

Each branch of the horns hosts two bird-shaped figures, totaling 16 across the horns. The tail is also a bird-shaped beast, soldered along with the horns and the base to the main body. The petals of the base have small perforations, possibly for being attached to the crown of the Xiongnu people.

Despite its small size, this gold artifact showcases the pinnacle of metalwork techniques of the nomadic tribes of the time and reflects the Xiongnu people’s reverence for powerful and formidable animals. Collection: Shaanxi History Museum.