Vintage Chinese Zodiac Wheel & Carved Dragon Chop

This large carved Chinese chop was discovered at an old New England estate.

The Height is 3 1/8th" and the Chop area is 2" x 1 1/4" wide.

Note the dragon tails swooping up to the top of the Chinese coin and the dragon heads snarling at the bottom.

The back side is carved depicting the 12 animals of the Zodiac.

The zodiac is calculated by a cycle of sixty years in which each animal signifies a different year. The lunar calendar paved the sequence of the Chinese zodiac animals. ... Myths say that Emperor Huangdi, the first Chinese emperor, in 2637 B.C. invented the Chinese lunar calendar, which follows the cycles of the moon.