Gold sheet has been found in ancient Chinese tombs as early as the Shang dynasty(c.1600-1050 BC), but gold objects were still not common in burial collections during the Han period. Instead, gilt technologu was widely used, as shown by a vast amount of archaeological evidence. These 2 examples of gold animal –design ornaments from the King of Chu’s tomb at Shizishan were apparently influenced by foreigen culture from the steppe peple of the Ordos region and Inner or Central Asia. The art and iconography of these neighbouring nomads has come to be called simply animal style.

       The ornamant was made form a gold sheet hammered into shape probably over a raised design of a bear’s head in metal or other hard material. The mouth was cut out leaving a hole, which, in addition to its aesthetic purpose, may have funcionged as a buckle or have been attached to an object for decorration.