Brass Zodiac Cinnabar Keyring

Your zodiac animal on cinnabar red, in a brass case that turns.

Cinnabar is the red mineral Chinese tradition has used for protection for longer than it has used ink, ground into the pigment of temple doors and the paste under a seal. Here it makes the ground behind the animal, ringed with a key-fret border. Your own animal year comes round once every twelve, and the custom is to carry something red and something protective through it; this does both in one object.

Turn it over and the back is a coin cast with 招财进宝, bring in wealth and treasure, which spins in its setting under the thumb.

Usually bought for a 24th, 36th, 48th or 60th birthday, the years the animal comes back.

- Case: brass, supplier lists pure brass
- Animal plate: silver-tone relief on a red ground, supplier lists cinnabar, unconfirmed
- Coin face: 招财进宝, turns in its setting
- Cord: braided brown cord with cloud-cut button, wood bead, bodhi seed bead and black cloud bead
- Packaging: boxed