The piece should be the first set and the earliest found set of zodiac necklace jewellery in the Chinese art history, an important treasure of all times. As early as in the Zhou Dynasty, a variety of jade pieces and Agate necklace had emerged, but application of the ‘twelve zodiac’, this piece shall be the first.
The carvings are extraordinary, there are low reliefs and incisions, the twelve animals are lifelike, very vivid. The zodiac represents all kinds of animals, squatting, sitting, lying, and flying or climbing; all are carved very expressively, demonstrating great skills and techniques. Small features are expressed through numerous lines, scales, feathers, nose, mouth, hair, claws are well sculpted.
According to Han Wang ‘Balance Theory’ said, zodiac animals and humans are related as closely as each breath is to the next. The book said before the Eastern Han Dynasty, the citizens of Central area were using the Lunar calendar method and also twelve terrestrial branches to record years. But in the northwest region of nomads, twelve animal signs were used to mark the year. It is about the early Eastern Han Dynasty, trading of Northern Nations and the Central people were more rapid and intricate, zodiac calendar was gradually passed to the Hans, the zodiac and the twelve terrestrial branches were met. The theory from old times on the relationship between the time of year and the animals of the zodiac was strikingly consistent with today’s theory.This zodiac necklace is an evidence of Chinese ancestor worshiping animals and totem, an important part of Chinese culture. As the first found Chinese zodiac necklace therefore it is significantly precious.
Similar collection at the Beijing Forbidden City L: 34cm; Weight: 26g

汉代 玉串玛瑙12生肖项链 北京故宫有类似藏品 L:34cm; Weight:26g
本器应当为中国珠宝艺术史上的最早的一套生肖项链饰品，堪称重要珍宝。早在周朝，就出现过玉块串玛瑙的各种项链饰物，但十二生肖完整地运用到首饰当中，应当归属本器为最先。
本器雕工精湛，有浮雕，有阴刻，十二生肖栩栩如生，十分灵动。代表着十二生肖的各类动物，或坐或卧或蹲，或飞或奔或爬，尤其是种种神态和特征显得十分形象，足见其浮雕、圆琢手法十分娴熟。而通过阴刻，还呈现了各类动物的鳞、羽、鼻、嘴、毛发、须、额线、蹄中线等细部特征。
据东汉王充《论衡》的记载，十二生肖动物与人类息息相关。书中记载称，东汉之前，中原地区还有使用干支纪年法，即用甲乙丙丁戊己庚辛壬癸十个天干，配以子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥十二地支。但在西北的游牧民族地区，却是使用十二动物生肖来标示年份。大约正是在东汉早期，随着北方民族与中原先民的深入交流和密切融合，生肖纪年也就逐渐通行于汉地，并将十二生肖与十二地支相配。从今天反推至那时，才知当时的年份与动物生肖的关系，和现今所处的年份与动物生肖关系，竟然惊人的一致。
由此可见，一条十二生肖项链，也佐证了华夏先民的动物崇拜、图腾崇拜和早期天文学的成果已经融为一体，是中华文化灿烂结晶的重要部分。作为第一条被发现的十二生肖项链，因此而弥足珍贵。