This Miao silver drinking horn would have used for special occasions i.e. prospective in-laws visiting etc. The horn is small 6.5 inches from tip to far rim. The reposse design of dragon and fish is mirrored on each side of the horn.
This Yao necklace and matching pair of earrings have added beads and long silk tassels. Both are light weight and easy to wear. The earrings are hollow with the same repeated design pattern on the backside. The wire loop may be a bit thick as they were made to accommodate the large ear holes which are traditional for the Chinese minority groups. These loops could easily be changed out for posts or a thinner wire hoop.
For women of indigenous cultures, sewing needles were often hard to come by and considered valuable tools. Commonly, among such groups, cases were specifically designed to protect and safeguard the sewing. This particular antique silver needle case is from the Chinese Miao ethnic minority group and would have been worn by the women as a decorative costume ornament during festival.
This wide cuff Chinese bracelet has deeply repousse design composed of detailed symbols related to Miao Ethic Minority myths and legends. Such bracelets would have been worn in matched pairs, one on each wrist, by the women of the "short skirt" Miao of Dan Zhai, and the bracelets would have been handed down from mother to daughter for generations.
The cuff is almost 3 inches at the widest point in the front b ...click for details
For festivals including her wedding, a Yao girl of marriageable age would wear the traditional "celestial crown" clipped to her hair on the top of her head. This traditional ornament was common among the Yao of Laos, Thailand and China's Yunnan Province. Upon reaching puberty, the Yao girl would be expected to make her own crown following traditional patterns and methods of her local region. For some, the celestial crown would be worn as daily ornament, while other Yao groups woul ...click for details
This Chinese pipe is from the Miao Ethnic Minority group in the vicinity of Rong Jiang. My Miao friends insist that this pipe would have been used for smoking tobacco and not opium. Made from silver alloy, the stem design has the two dragons chasing the center pearl.
The pipe is in very good condition and is 19" long and it comes with its own custom made stand.
This rare ceremonial Chinese "lock" necklace is Yao ethnic minority. Made from pure bouillon silver, it over weighs 4.5 lbs. The Yao Ethnic Minority groups range from southern China into Northern Thailand. This piece was sourced out of China but may just as easily migrated there with members of the Yao group of Thailand. In Chinese culture the lock necklace acts as a talisman and symbolically "protects" the wearer from ill fortune, much as a lock on a piece of furniture w ...click for details
This Ethnic Minority is from the Chinese province of Yunnan. It was a typical costume worn by the woman of the Yi minority group. The fabric is cotton homespun with an applique embroidery decoration bordering the sleeve hems. An added geometric tiny cross stitch embroidery pattern highlights the hem of the garment. Addition This garment is entirely hand stitched.
This antique Burmese betel nut box contains matching serving tray and 4 small containers. The side of the box is circled with an excellent example of the Burmese schwezawa technique of gold leaf in a striking swirling chu-pan foliage design. The top has a lively chinthe, a traditional Burmese stylized "lion" figure with a vine and leaf foliage border.
The outer box is 7 inches in diameter and 4 inches high ...click for details
This baby carrier is from the Miao ethnic minority of Qui Yang. Characteristic of the antique Miao baby carriers from this area, the surface decoration is composed of very tiny cross stitches which form geometric embroidery pattern which, to Western eyes, resemble snowflakes. Because of the time required to produce and the attractive appearance of this style baby carrier, they were used mostly for festivals and are now highly prized by both Westerners and Chinese.
...click for details
From the Yi ethnic minority group, this antique Chinese container would have been used to store tobacco. The decorative cinnabar paint color draws attention to the gentle dome shapes of the lid and bottom sections, which fit together with a deep overlap. The worn areas of the cinnabar expose the black lacquer undercoat. As a folk art object, this tobacco container combines both the pleasing aesthetic craftsmanship and utilitarian need which shaped the daily lives of many indigenous ethnic gro ...click for details
This adult female puppet is clothed in traditional Thai costume with a open shirt. All parts are hand-carved, tied and strung together, which gives the puppeteer lots of choices of movement. The face has eyes which can open and close independent of each other and the mouth can also be opened and closed. She is absolutely charming, and can hang quietly on a wall as an symbol of Thailand ethnographic folk art.
The Zhuang are one of the larger of the Chinese Ethnic Minority groups. This is a rare old baby carrier from Yunnan Province. Because silk was not readily available in the rural areas, the use of silk as the background fabric indicates that this carrier came from a wealthy family. The central panel uses several colors of fabric appliqued into a large stylized lotus flower. Silk thread is used for the delicate satin stitched embroidery of butterflies and flowers. The upper border uses multip ...click for details
This elaborate silver Miao headband would be worn by a woman for festival. First a piece of fabric would be tied around the womans head to protect her from the sharp edges of the metal. The headband would make a soft pleasing sound as the woman moved her head. The man on horseback and flowers are a reference to the Miao myth of bringing light into the world. The headband is approx 20 inches long.
The Chinese ethnic minority Miao are very fond of silver and would use any festival to display their ornate silver jewelry. This dragon necklace was used by a young girl child from one of the many Miao villages around the hills of Kali. The pendent is 6.5 inches wide, childs' size, but the decorative chain is long enough for an adult to wear. Because the pendent is hollow, it is comfortable to wear. As one moves, the necklace makes a soft tinkling sound.
