For auction is a beautiful hand carved Jade belt representing the Chinese Zodiac animals.  Belt is 31" long, consisting of 16 separate pieces/plates strung together with a thin red cord.  The male and female parts of the clasp are brownish jade, somewhat contrasting with the mossy-white green of the other pieces.  Attached to the clasp pieces are two hexagonal pieces which represent the elements of the earth (I'll stand corrected, I have little knowledge of Chinese culture).  Following the hexagonal pieces are the 12 zodiac animals, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (not in this order on the belt).  The animal pieces are a mossy-white green with each rectangular piece 43 mm x 30 mm x 4 mm (1 3/4" x 1 1/4" x 1/8").  Each rectangular plate is grooved along the long end with drilled holes at the corners.  The cord follows the grooves and is threaded through the drilled holes.  The individual animal plates are thin enough to be somewhat translucent.  The reverse side of all plates is smooth. I have no idea whether this belt is antique, vintage, or modern.  The belt was purchase in China in the early 1990s.