The Chinese dragon is a mythical creature in East Asian culture visualized these days as a long, scaled, snake-like creature.  Historically the symbol of the Emperor of China, the Chinese dragon, starting with the Yuan Dynasty, was forbidden as a symbol  for regular citizens to associate themselves with. Today, the 4-toed Chinese dragon is seen as a potent symbol of auspicious power in Chinese folklore and art. Cast in 14k gold and oxidized to bring out the wonderful detailing.