DRAGON HULU BOTTLE GOURD - Gold Gilded
1 oz 999 Fine Silver Coin – Republique du Tchad 2023 – 5000 Francs CFA
 
This lovely rendering of a traditional Hulu gourd comes complete with a lovely celestial dragon engraved upon it. This is a fine example of what a ceremonial gourd would have looked like in ancient China, and the special carvings, scrolling, and imagery are ideal to convey a message about the prosperity and good fortune that would be conferred upon the owner of this gourd. This kind of piece accurately captures everything that is special about gourds in Chinese culture with beautiful detail. If gourds represent heaven and earth as they unite, this gourd goes a step further to show heaven, earth, and the celestial spaces in harmony.
 
Good Luck and Blessings
Gourds have a special meaning in China, and the bottle-gourd is one of the most well-known of these vessels. They were used for food and medicine, and their hard shell allowed them to serve the function of dipper for water and wine as well. Gourds might also have been used for the transport of goods. The surface of these gourds was sometimes decorated with symbols and stories, as displayed in this example. The Hulu, or gourd, is considered to bring good luck and blessings to those who carry them, even today. Gourds are also thought to absorb negative energy and protect their owners from evil. This example of a Dragon Hulu bottle is heavily carved and decorated and calls to mind ceremonial gourds rather than daily use gourds. Celestial figures and important people were often depicted with gourds in their hands, and the representation on this gourd would indicate the special use it was intended for. This is no simple carrying gourd, and the beauty of the design and carvings on it are both unique and special. The dragon occupies a celestial space in Chinese culture, and they are commonly associated with wisdom, the elements, and even seeing into the future.
 
Consecrated
Upon completion, each of the limited 688 pieces are then imbued with the energy of the dragons. This is done by a reputable Feng Shui master from Singapore, Master Louis Cheung, who invites the energy of the powerful dragons into the collectible, and amplify their positive traits and auspicious energy for it to attract even more of such energy. Every piece has been blessed with wishes of wealth, fortune and success for their future owners. Each piece is packaged and delivered with a Certificate verifying its edition number and authenticity.
 
Finish
A new minting technique called “Bi-Metal Plus” was applied to give this piece an impressive size and weight. At 39x60mm,  it is double the size of a regular 1 oz collectible, made possible by combining 2 oz of copper embodied within two layers of 999 fine silver totaling 1 oz, resulting in a super high relief topped with antiqued silver and gold gilded finishing. This is a limited edition of 688 pieces only. Each piece is packaged and delivered with a Certificate verifying its edition number and authenticity.