Page 60 - Christie's Fine Chinese Qianlong's Bronze Auction September 13, 2018

Zuo 作
The character zuo (work or manufacture)
depicts cutting plants with a sickle,
symbolizing all kinds of labor and can be
used as the verb ‘to manufacture’.

Bao 寶
The character bao (treasure) depicts a house
flled with jade, a cowry shell (used as
currency), and a pottery vessel, symbolizing
the wealth of a household.

Yi 彝
The character yi (ritual vessel) depicts
two hands grasping a tied, bleeding bird,
symbolizing sacrifce and the ritual vessels
used in sacrifces.

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