Ornamental Plaque

These six ornamental plaques were most likely placed either on the sides of a wooden chariot used in a funerary procession or on the sides of a wooden coffin. The gilding and high quality of workmanship imply they were made for someone of high rank. The detailed floral patterns embellishing each lobe of the quatrefoil design and scrolling through each plaque might represent lotus flowers, a symbol of rebirth in Buddhism. Similar floral designs are also found on Liao textiles. Nails still remain; they were used to attach each plaque to the wooden substrate.