Finial in the shape of a dragon head, Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), 1st century BCE–2nd century CE. Gilt bronze with traces of red pigment. H. 6.4 cm; W. 5.1 cm; L. 14.6 cm. Charlotte C. and John C. Weber Collection, Gift of Charlotte C. and John C. Weber, 1992, 1992.165.25. © 2000–2024 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The dragon in China is an auspicious emblem of nature’s creative forces and is often visualized in art as a composite creature. This sleek example, with its elongated neck, flared nostrils, and gaping mouth, may have been inspired by the heavenly horses thought to dwell in Central Asia.