A Stone Leopard

This small stone leopard, unearthed from the mausoleum of a Chu ruler at the western foot of Shizi Mountain in Xuzhou, is more than a charming animal figure. It is a weight made during the Western Han period.

In Han interiors, people often sat on floor mats. Weights were placed at the four corners to keep the mats from shifting, and this leopard once served exactly that practical purpose. Yet its form also reveals courtly taste. The animal looks surprisingly gentle, with its limbs tucked beneath its body, a faint smile, and a necklace around its neck.

The necklace suggests that leopards were kept by the elite, possibly as pets or hunting companions.