Diameter: 1 m Height: 1.5 m

The gift was presented by the People’s Government of Hebei Province to celebrate Macao’s return to the People’s Republic of China. The technique of filigree with inlay used in creating this gift involves shaping precious metals such as gold and silver into strips first. These strips are then woven into different patterns, followed by shaping and inlaying with beads, jade and other precious stones. Filigree with inlay is a delicate craft that requires skilled graphic design and fine artistic techniques.

The main body of this work consists of nine golden lions holding up a ball that symbolises the motherland. The ball is inlaid with 34 pieces of precious stones, representing the 34 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and special administrative regions of China. The nine golden lions and nine ribbons represent ‘unity’ in a Chinese saying, expressing the joyous emotions of the Hebei people at the time of Macao’s return to Chinese sovereignty.