Product Description

Akha Hilltribe Neck Ring 2

Material: Silver
Style: Akha
Size: Height 14.5 cm, Width 16 cm
Order Number: MHSAHNR2

Hung around an infant’s neck during a special ceremony, a simple silver ring represented a dog collar, which fooled evil spirits into thinking the baby was just a worthless animal, and indeed the baby was given the name of an animal guardian. It also protected the child from illness and signified that the baby had entered the human world. If it died before the ceremony, it would not have a funeral, as it had never actually left the prenatal spirit world.

When the baby outgrew the size of the ring, it was melted down and made into a larger one. As a result few infant rings are seen today.

These developed into a larger neck ring with an opening at the bottom and the ends turned back to hold a chain on either side for a symbolic lock or pendant. This is what we have here. Such neck rings were worn by babies, young boys, women and young men in many minority and Han majority groups.

Akha women wear broad flat silver neck rings. The men wear smooth round neck rings. These days aluminium is often substituted for silver. The elders highly value silver, which are prestige items.

The Akha originated in Yunnan, South China, where most still live. For hundreds of years they have been migrating south, to Burma, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam.

The first Akha village in Thailand was established around 1903 near the Burmese border. There were more villages, but probably not more than 2,500 people by 1945. By 1983 there were about 7,000.

They have no written history, but they can recite the names of their male ancestors back 13 generations and their migration routes in China, Burma and Thailand.

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