Stone Carving – Dragon Ball 

Length: 0.7 m  Width: 0.7 m  Height: 0.9912 m 

The gift, presented by the People’s Government of Hunan Province to celebrate Macao’s return to the People’s Republic of China, is carved out of chrysanthemum stones which are abundant in the province. The stones are unique because of their grey colour, natural chrysanthemum-like white patterns and translucent texture. 

This work is composed of two balls, one inside the other, and a base with a frame. The interior ball features a carving of two dragons, named ‘Two dragons playing with a ball’. The outer ball showcases a carving of five flying dragons. The patterns on the balls represent the growth and prosperity of the motherland. By adding the two huge stylised dragons carved on the mahogany frame, the piece contains nine dragons. Along with the nine chrysanthemum-like patterns on the stone, these symbols represent completeness and joy of the handover. The design, featuring two rolling balls nested within each other, creates a dynamic and exquisite piece. The work measures 99.12 centimetres in height, representing Macao’s return in December of 1999.