The twelve animals of the Zodiac feature prominently in countless East-Asian tales and legends, and have always been an important source of inspiration for Chinese, Korean and Japanese artists. Together with the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), the twelve animal signs constitute the East-Asian horoscope. They form part of a chronological cycle and, like their Western counterparts, determine the personalities of those born under a certain sign.

The Magnificent Twelve offers...

A repertory of ca. 7000 maker's marks, rendered typographically. Contains listst of silversmiths without recorded marks, town marks and date letters. Standard work. This book is an unchanged reprint of the 1993-edition.