Chinese Zodiac in Old Carved Ivory Necklace

Twelve carved ivory beads convey to eye and touch one artist's (or was it one guild's) version of each of the twelve signs of the zodiac that the wise Chinese see in their stars:

The necklace is thirty-four and a half inches long, strung on what looks like very strong silk. It weighs three and a half ounces (not troy ones, real ones). We bought it in 1983 in Shanghai.

Here are the beads in the order they are strung, which is the traditional order, with a comment reflecting the Chinese astrologer's view of each kind of a year. (The same Chinese year comes around approximately once in twelve of our years. Makes sense.)

Year of The Rat

Brings opportunity and good prospects; a year of plenty.

Year of The Ox

The yoke of responsibility comes down. Get your house in order.

Year of The Tiger

Starts with a big, bold bang and ends with a whimper. A hotheaded year, poor time for diplomacy.

Year of The Rabbit

A welcome, placid year: find a quiet place and contemplate, enjoy.

Year of The Dragon

Grandiose, exhilarating, colossal, overambitious and with waves of fortune and disaster flooding you. React, cope.

Year of The Snake

A negative year following the extreme energies of the Dragon. Unmerciful, except a great year for theatre, music, the arts.

Year of The Horse

A hectic, lively, reckless, romantic, carefree year. Stay in step with The Horse.

Year of The Sheep

A smoother, more peaceful year. Tend to your home and to those closest to you.

Year of The Monkey

This year, everything works! Be daring, invent, improvise. Laugh at your mistakes and keep trying.

Year of The Rooster

Things still look great, but plans are starting to fail. Life is harder. You may have to expend maximum effor for minimum gain.

Year of The Dog

With the Dog's loyalty and honor also comes his unbending willpower. Happiness and dissent will come to you as one.

Year of The Boar

Good will for all: an excellent climate for business and industry. This is a year of plenty, so live it to the fullest.

The closure at the back of the bead is made from two half beads, with a male thread carved onto one and a female thread carved into the other. What a nice way to do it!

Carved Ivory Astrological Necklace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 500 (SOLD)