Chinese Han Style Gilt Coiled Lionesque Creature 20th century A.D. or earlier. A Han Dynasty style, sinuous gilt bronze lionesque beast, modelled in a dynamic coiled posture on a circular base from which fingers of water rise in response to the animal's muscular movements, its slender body with a dense covering of scales, its long and scaly tail curled upwards and its roaring mouth ajar, revealing a row of squared teeth and a protruding tongue, its eyes bulbous and large ears pricked. 367 grams, 66 mm (2 5/8 in.). Acquired 1970s. West Country, UK, collection.