Material: Silver
Style: Hmong
Size: Height 41 cm, Width 21 cm
Order Number: MHSAHSSLN1

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The Hmong wear silver spirit locks, which are are padlocks or hook shaped pendants, around the neck or on the body. They function as protective amulets  to ‘lock’ the soul of a person into his or her body in the case of spiritual malaise, illness, or accident.

The Hmong are animists, who believe that everything has one or more souls, containing spirits, which are good or bad. The spirits of deceased ancestors can affect the welfare and health of the family and have to be appeased with offerings and prayers.

Shamans can communicate with the spirits. Every house has an altar where spirits are worshiped.

Humans have three souls, which can be in disarray and might leave the body if a person is frightened or stressed.  A foreign spirit might enter a person’s body, causing  illness. These beliefs explain sickness and mental illness.

To cure people, the elders led by the shaman performed a Soul Calling ceremony, casting out bad spirits or inviting good spirits into the person’s body. The spirit lock prevented the person’s soul from escaping and stopped outside spirits entering.  The size of the amulet indicated the severity of the illness or problem.

There is an important ceremony for a newborn baby, called the
soul calling ceremony, hu plig. The Hmong believe that a newborn baby has 3 souls. The first soul enters the baby on conception, and the second soul when the baby takes its first breath. The third soul has to be called on the third morning after birth.

When all 3 souls are safely in the infant’s body, it will be healthy. If not, the baby may become ill and die. The ceremony starts before sunrise and continues until noon. There is a feast for the guests.

A shaman usually performs the ceremony. The baby is given a name.
The name represents its soul. If a wrong name is given, the soul of the child is not called and the right name has to be chosen. Naming is essential for well being and growth. If a wrong name is given, the child will cry and become ill. The chant includes words that instruct the soul about its home, siblings and family, and a promise that it will be looked after by the family.

The babies wear the spirit locks for life, often on their backs.  They may wear 3 or 4 spirit locks at a time.  They are usually fastened by chains to neck rings, which may be solid or hollow and worn either singly or in sets of up to 6 tiers.

Silver jewellery is valued highly by the Hmong and spirit locks are usually made from very high grade silver (95% or above).  They are decorated with traditional tribal motifs, which may originally have related to the illness to be cured. 

They are in many sizes and shapes, rectangular, triangular, half round and square. 

They can be dated to at least the turn of the 19th century.   Old locks are rare and are very collectable.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Peoples of the Golden Triangle, Six Tribes in Thailand, Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Hmong Silver Neck Ring and Spirit Locks appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Hmong
Size: Height 6.5 cm, Width 6.5 cm
Order Number: MHSAHSSL1

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The Hmong wear silver spirit locks, which are are padlocks or hook shaped pendants, around the neck or on the body. They function as protective amulets  to ‘lock’ the soul of a person into his or her body in the case of spiritual malaise, illness, or accident.

The Hmong are animists, who believe that everything has one or more souls, containing spirits, which are good or bad. The spirits of deceased ancestors can affect the welfare and health of the family and have to be appeased with offerings and prayers.

Shamans can communicate with the spirits. Every house has an altar where spirits are worshiped.

Humans have three souls, which can be in disarray and might leave the body if a person is frightened or stressed.  A foreign spirit might enter a person’s body, causing  illness. These beliefs explain sickness and mental illness.

To cure people, the elders led by the shaman performed a Soul Calling ceremony, casting out bad spirits or inviting good spirits into the person’s body. The spirit lock prevented the person’s soul from escaping and stopped outside spirits entering.  The size of the amulet indicated the severity of the illness or problem.

There is an important ceremony for a newborn baby, called the
soul calling ceremony, hu plig. The Hmong believe that a newborn baby has 3 souls. The first soul enters the baby on conception, and the second soul when the baby takes its first breath. The third soul has to be called on the third morning after birth.

When all 3 souls are safely in the infant’s body, it will be healthy. If not, the baby may become ill and die. The ceremony starts before sunrise and continues until noon. There is a feast for the guests.

A shaman usually performs the ceremony. The baby is given a name.
The name represents its soul. If a wrong name is given, the soul of the child is not called and the right name has to be chosen. Naming is essential for well being and growth. If a wrong name is given, the child will cry and become ill. The chant includes words that instruct the soul about its home, siblings and family, and a promise that it will be looked after by the family.

The babies wear the spirit locks for life, often on their backs.  They may wear 3 or 4 spirit locks at a time.  They are usually fastened by chains to neck rings, which may be solid or hollow and worn either singly or in sets of up to 6 tiers.

Silver jewellery is valued highly by the Hmong and spirit locks are usually made from very high grade silver (95% or above).  They are decorated with traditional tribal motifs, which may originally have related to the illness to be cured. 

They are in many sizes and shapes, rectangular, triangular, half round and square. 

They can be dated to at least the turn of the 19th century.   Old locks are rare and are very collectable.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Peoples of the Golden Triangle, Six Tribes in Thailand, Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Hmong Silver Spirit Lock 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Hmong
Size: Height 7.75 cm, Width 4.5 cm
Order Number: MHSAHSSL2

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The Hmong wear silver spirit locks, which are are padlocks or hook shaped pendants, around the neck or on the body. They function as protective amulets  to ‘lock’ the soul of a person into his or her body in the case of spiritual malaise, illness, or accident.

The Hmong are animists, who believe that everything has one or more souls, containing spirits, which are good or bad. The spirits of deceased ancestors can affect the welfare and health of the family and have to be appeased with offerings and prayers.

Shamans can communicate with the spirits. Every house has an altar where spirits are worshiped.

Humans have three souls, which can be in disarray and might leave the body if a person is frightened or stressed.  A foreign spirit might enter a person’s body, causing  illness. These beliefs explain sickness and mental illness.

To cure people, the elders led by the shaman performed a Soul Calling ceremony, casting out bad spirits or inviting good spirits into the person’s body. The spirit lock prevented the person’s soul from escaping and stopped outside spirits entering.  The size of the amulet indicated the severity of the illness or problem.

There is an important ceremony for a newborn baby, called the
soul calling ceremony, hu plig. The Hmong believe that a newborn baby has 3 souls. The first soul enters the baby on conception, and the second soul when the baby takes its first breath. The third soul has to be called on the third morning after birth.

When all 3 souls are safely in the infant’s body, it will be healthy. If not, the baby may become ill and die. The ceremony starts before sunrise and continues until noon. There is a feast for the guests.

A shaman usually performs the ceremony. The baby is given a name.
The name represents its soul. If a wrong name is given, the soul of the child is not called and the right name has to be chosen. Naming is essential for well being and growth. If a wrong name is given, the child will cry and become ill. The chant includes words that instruct the soul about its home, siblings and family, and a promise that it will be looked after by the family.

The babies wear the spirit locks for life, often on their backs.  They may wear 3 or 4 spirit locks at a time.  They are usually fastened by chains to neck rings, which may be solid or hollow and worn either singly or in sets of up to 6 tiers.

Silver jewellery is valued highly by the Hmong and spirit locks are usually made from very high grade silver (95% or above).  They are decorated with traditional tribal motifs, which may originally have related to the illness to be cured. 

They are in many sizes and shapes, rectangular, triangular, half round and square. 

They can be dated to at least the turn of the 19th century.   Old locks are rare and are very collectable.

Engraved on both sides. Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Peoples of the Golden Triangle, Six Tribes in Thailand, Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Hmong Silver Spirit Lock 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Hmong
Size: Height 7.5 cm, Width 7.5 cm
Order Number: MHSAHSSL3

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The Hmong wear silver spirit locks, which are are padlocks or hook shaped pendants, around the neck or on the body. They function as protective amulets  to ‘lock’ the soul of a person into his or her body in the case of spiritual malaise, illness, or accident.

The Hmong are animists, who believe that everything has one or more souls, containing spirits, which are good or bad. The spirits of deceased ancestors can affect the welfare and health of the family and have to be appeased with offerings and prayers.

Shamans can communicate with the spirits. Every house has an altar where spirits are worshiped.

Humans have three souls, which can be in disarray and might leave the body if a person is frightened or stressed.  A foreign spirit might enter a person’s body, causing  illness. These beliefs explain sickness and mental illness.

To cure people, the elders led by the shaman performed a Soul Calling ceremony, casting out bad spirits or inviting good spirits into the person’s body. The spirit lock prevented the person’s soul from escaping and stopped outside spirits entering.  The size of the amulet indicated the severity of the illness or problem.

There is an important ceremony for a newborn baby, called the
soul calling ceremony, hu plig. The Hmong believe that a newborn baby has 3 souls. The first soul enters the baby on conception, and the second soul when the baby takes its first breath. The third soul has to be called on the third morning after birth.

When all 3 souls are safely in the infant’s body, it will be healthy. If not, the baby may become ill and die. The ceremony starts before sunrise and continues until noon. There is a feast for the guests.

A shaman usually performs the ceremony. The baby is given a name.
The name represents its soul. If a wrong name is given, the soul of the child is not called and the right name has to be chosen. Naming is essential for well being and growth. If a wrong name is given, the child will cry and become ill. The chant includes words that instruct the soul about its home, siblings and family, and a promise that it will be looked after by the family.

The babies wear the spirit locks for life, often on their backs.  They may wear 3 or 4 spirit locks at a time.  They are usually fastened by chains to neck rings, which may be solid or hollow and worn either singly or in sets of up to 6 tiers.

Silver jewellery is valued highly by the Hmong and spirit locks are usually made from very high grade silver (95% or above).  They are decorated with traditional tribal motifs, which may originally have related to the illness to be cured. 

They are in many sizes and shapes, rectangular, triangular, half round and square. 

They can be dated to at least the turn of the 19th century.   Old locks are rare and are very collectable.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Peoples of the Golden Triangle, Six Tribes in Thailand, Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Hmong Silver Spirit Lock 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Hmong
Size: Height 9.75 cm, Width 6.25 cm
Order Number: MHSAHSSL4

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The Hmong wear silver spirit locks, which are are padlocks or hook shaped pendants, around the neck or on the body. They function as protective amulets  to ‘lock’ the soul of a person into his or her body in the case of spiritual malaise, illness, or accident.

The Hmong are animists, who believe that everything has one or more souls, containing spirits, which are good or bad. The spirits of deceased ancestors can affect the welfare and health of the family and have to be appeased with offerings and prayers.

Shamans can communicate with the spirits. Every house has an altar where spirits are worshiped.

Humans have three souls, which can be in disarray and might leave the body if a person is frightened or stressed.  A foreign spirit might enter a person’s body, causing  illness. These beliefs explain sickness and mental illness.

To cure people, the elders led by the shaman performed a Soul Calling ceremony, casting out bad spirits or inviting good spirits into the person’s body. The spirit lock prevented the person’s soul from escaping and stopped outside spirits entering.  The size of the amulet indicated the severity of the illness or problem.

There is an important ceremony for a newborn baby, called the
soul calling ceremony, hu plig. The Hmong believe that a newborn baby has 3 souls. The first soul enters the baby on conception, and the second soul when the baby takes its first breath. The third soul has to be called on the third morning after birth.

When all 3 souls are safely in the infant’s body, it will be healthy. If not, the baby may become ill and die. The ceremony starts before sunrise and continues until noon. There is a feast for the guests.

A shaman usually performs the ceremony. The baby is given a name.
The name represents its soul. If a wrong name is given, the soul of the child is not called and the right name has to be chosen. Naming is essential for well being and growth. If a wrong name is given, the child will cry and become ill. The chant includes words that instruct the soul about its home, siblings and family, and a promise that it will be looked after by the family.

The babies wear the spirit locks for life, often on their backs.  They may wear 3 or 4 spirit locks at a time.  They are usually fastened by chains to neck rings, which may be solid or hollow and worn either singly or in sets of up to 6 tiers.

Silver jewellery is valued highly by the Hmong and spirit locks are usually made from very high grade silver (95% or above).  They are decorated with traditional tribal motifs, which may originally have related to the illness to be cured. 

They are in many sizes and shapes, rectangular, triangular, half round and square. 

They can be dated to at least the turn of the 19th century.   Old locks are rare and are very collectable.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Peoples of the Golden Triangle, Six Tribes in Thailand, Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Hmong Silver Spirit Lock 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Hmong
Size: Height 9 cm, Width 6 cm
Order Number: MHSAHSSL5

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The Hmong wear silver spirit locks, which are are padlocks or hook shaped pendants, around the neck or on the body. They function as protective amulets  to ‘lock’ the soul of a person into his or her body in the case of spiritual malaise, illness, or accident.

The Hmong are animists, who believe that everything has one or more souls, containing spirits, which are good or bad. The spirits of deceased ancestors can affect the welfare and health of the family and have to be appeased with offerings and prayers.

Shamans can communicate with the spirits. Every house has an altar where spirits are worshiped.

Humans have three souls, which can be in disarray and might leave the body if a person is frightened or stressed.  A foreign spirit might enter a person’s body, causing  illness. These beliefs explain sickness and mental illness.

To cure people, the elders led by the shaman performed a Soul Calling ceremony, casting out bad spirits or inviting good spirits into the person’s body. The spirit lock prevented the person’s soul from escaping and stopped outside spirits entering.  The size of the amulet indicated the severity of the illness or problem.

There is an important ceremony for a newborn baby, called the
soul calling ceremony, hu plig. The Hmong believe that a newborn baby has 3 souls. The first soul enters the baby on conception, and the second soul when the baby takes its first breath. The third soul has to be called on the third morning after birth.

When all 3 souls are safely in the infant’s body, it will be healthy. If not, the baby may become ill and die. The ceremony starts before sunrise and continues until noon. There is a feast for the guests.

A shaman usually performs the ceremony. The baby is given a name.
The name represents its soul. If a wrong name is given, the soul of the child is not called and the right name has to be chosen. Naming is essential for well being and growth. If a wrong name is given, the child will cry and become ill. The chant includes words that instruct the soul about its home, siblings and family, and a promise that it will be looked after by the family.

The babies wear the spirit locks for life, often on their backs.  They may wear 3 or 4 spirit locks at a time.  They are usually fastened by chains to neck rings, which may be solid or hollow and worn either singly or in sets of up to 6 tiers.

Silver jewellery is valued highly by the Hmong and spirit locks are usually made from very high grade silver (95% or above).  They are decorated with traditional tribal motifs, which may originally have related to the illness to be cured. 

They are in many sizes and shapes, rectangular, triangular, half round and square. 

They can be dated to at least the turn of the 19th century.   Old locks are rare and are very collectable.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Peoples of the Golden Triangle, Six Tribes in Thailand, Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Hmong Silver Spirit Lock 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Hmong
Size: Height 38 cm (including the lock): Lock:  Height 4 cm, Width 7 cm
Order Number: HSSLN1

This is a new piece.

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The Hmong wear silver spirit locks, which are are padlocks or hook shaped pendants, around the neck or on the body. They function as protective amulets  to ‘lock’ the soul of a person into his or her body in the case of spiritual malaise, illness, or accident.

The Hmong are animists, who believe that everything has one or more souls, containing spirits, which are good or bad. The spirits of deceased ancestors can affect the welfare and health of the family and have to be appeased with offerings and prayers.

Shamans can communicate with the spirits. Every house has an altar where spirits are worshiped.

Humans have three souls, which can be in disarray and might leave the body if a person is frightened or stressed.  A foreign spirit might enter a person’s body, causing  illness. These beliefs explain sickness and mental illness.

To cure people, the elders led by the shaman performed a Soul Calling ceremony, casting out bad spirits or inviting good spirits into the person’s body. The spirit lock prevented the person’s soul from escaping and stopped outside spirits entering.  The size of the amulet indicated the severity of the illness or problem.

There is an important ceremony for a newborn baby, called the
soul calling ceremony, hu plig. The Hmong believe that a newborn baby has 3 souls. The first soul enters the baby on conception, and the second soul when the baby takes its first breath. The third soul has to be called on the third morning after birth.

When all 3 souls are safely in the infant’s body, it will be healthy. If not, the baby may become ill and die. The ceremony starts before sunrise and continues until noon. There is a feast for the guests.

A shaman usually performs the ceremony. The baby is given a name.
The name represents its soul. If a wrong name is given, the soul of the child is not called and the right name has to be chosen. Naming is essential for well being and growth. If a wrong name is given, the child will cry and become ill. The chant includes words that instruct the soul about its home, siblings and family, and a promise that it will be looked after by the family.

The babies wear the spirit locks for life, often on their backs.  They may wear 3 or 4 spirit locks at a time.  They are usually fastened by chains to neck rings, which may be solid or hollow and worn either singly or in sets of up to 6 tiers.

Silver jewellery is valued highly by the Hmong and spirit locks are usually made from very high grade silver (95% or above).  They are decorated with traditional tribal motifs, which may originally have related to the illness to be cured. 

They are in many sizes and shapes, rectangular, triangular, half round and square. 

There are similar examples in Peoples of the Golden Triangle, Six Tribes in Thailand, Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, pages 52, 54, 55 and 56.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Hmong Silver Spirit Lock Necklace appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Miao
Size: Height 4.25 cm, Diameter 3.25 cm
Order Number: MHSHME1

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The wearing of silver jewellery among  women is very important. It is a sign of femininity and wealth. Families begin saving to buy silver jewellery when a daughter is born, so that she can get married with a substantial amount of silver jewellery which belongs to her.

Large amounts of silver jewellery are worn at weddings, funerals and springtime celebrations. At New Year all the family silver is worn.

Miao women like silver circles with curled tips.

There are some examples in Four Centuries of Silver, Personal Adornment in the Qing Dynasty and After, Margaret Duda, Times Editions, 2002, page 98.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Miao Hilltribe Earrings 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Miao, Hmong
Size: Height 23.5 cm, Width 10 cm
Order Number: MHSHME2

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The wearing of silver jewellery among  women is very important. It is a sign of femininity and wealth. Families begin saving to buy silver jewellery when a daughter is born, so that she can get married with a substantial amount of silver jewellery which belongs to her.

Large amounts of silver jewellery are worn at weddings, funerals and springtime celebrations. At New Year all the family silver is worn.

Hmong women like long hook-shaped silver earrings.

There are also similar examples in Peoples of the Golden Triangle, Six Tribes in Thailand, Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, page 60.

Miao Hilltribe Earrings.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Miao Hilltribe Earrings 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Miao
Size: Height 29 cm, Diameter 16 cm (top)
Order Number: MHSHNR2

The Miao people live in southern China mostly in Guizhou province. Miao sub-groups such as the Hmong live in northern Thailand and eastern Burma. The Hmong have 2 major branches, the White Hmong and the Green Hmong.

Many migrated to Laos. By 1850 they were established in the mountains around Luang Prabang. By the end of the 19th century there were several Hmong villages in Thailand. In 1984 there were 245 villages.

During World War II the Chinese tried to stop them speaking their own language or wearing their distinctive dress, but they failed.

The Maio keep much of their wealth in silver jewelry.

The wearing of silver jewellery among  women is very important. It is a sign of femininity and wealth. Families begin saving to buy silver jewellery when a daughter is born, so that she can get married with a substantial amount of silver jewellery which belongs to her.

Large amounts of silver jewellery are worn at weddings, funerals and springtime celebrations. At New Year all the family silver is worn.

This is a very nice Miao torque with chatelaine pendants is particularly and unusually elaborate. The centre piece with 2 dangles is a symbolic silver lock with foliage designs in a scallop shape.

The weight and size of these locks varies a lot. The dangles are as varied as the locks themselves and may be pomegranates, lotus blossoms, monkeys, fish or pigs. Shapes may be scallop, butterfly, kidney, cylinder, rectangular, hexagonal,  or multi-edged. The repoussé images may be floral, good luck symbols, dragons, mythological, folk-story or opera scenes. Chinese deities, calligraphy and Buddhist symbols, such as the lotus, peony and plum, were also popular.

During baby ceremonies throughout China during the Qing dynasty (1644 – 1912) the father or priest would drape a symbolic lock and chain over the baby’s neck to symbolically lock the child to the earth and safeguard it against evil spirits, who might snatch the baby away.

Teenage boys wore locks. Women also wore symbolic locks at their weddings.

There are some examples in Four Centuries of Silver, Personal Adornment in the Qing Dynasty and After, Margaret Duda, Times Editions, 2002, pages 32-41.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Miao Hilltribe Torque appeared first on Murni's in Bali.