描述

Amalgam-gilt weight in the shape with shell inlay

Han Dynasty

秦漢人對吉祥題材及祝語深爲喜好，如用「羊」象徵「祥」，用「龜」象徵「壽」，「宜子孫」、「樂末央」、「出人大吉」等銘交更是流行，成爲此時期器物裝飾和銘文的一大特色。

Words of auspiciousness were favorites of the Oin and Han people, and characterized the objects made during the period. They employed homonyms widely and connotatively to convey best wishes, such as goat for auspicious (both pronounced xian), turtle for longevity (shou). Other propitious expressions also prevailed:
“Benefiting Descendants”, “Everlasting Felicity”, “Favorable Both Indoors and Outdoors”