Originally intended for a child's protection, this traditional Chinese silver lock necklace makes a very nice display piece and/or can be worn by an adult. The chain is 16 inches long and easily unhooks from either side. The "lock" is 2.5 inches wide x 1.25 inches high and 1 inch deep.

This antique Chinese necklace has an ornately detailed large Kylin as the central medallion. The medallion is 3.5 inches across and there are are five decorative chains hanging from it. Each of these chains ends with a fruit. The low grade silver used for the necklace is typical of the Chinese silver used in old China. The Kylin is a Chinese mythical animal.

This lock necklace can comfortably be worn by a adult even though it was originally intended for a child...

This is a heavy Chines necklace which was worn by the Dong ethnic minority women. It can be worn and also makes a very impressive display artifact.

The bib front and back are domed to a thickness of about 1 inch at the center and the piece spans over 10 inches side to side. The weight of the piece (approx 2 lbs)indicates that the piece is definately not hollow

I bought this antique Tibetan ethnic minority needle case years ago in China. Needles were an important sewing tool for women of every indigenous culture and for the Tibetans the needle case was frequently worn as a jewelry accessory for costume adornment festivals. The small jade bi functions as a weight for stability at the bottom of the needle case. It is beautiful.

From the mid to late 1800's, each piece of this matched pair of antique Chinese Kingfisher Feather ornaments are 5 inches across. Some small bits of thread still cling to the original metal loops which would have been used to sew these ornaments to an article of clothing. The earliest of kingfisher ornaments were made of using a hollow papier mache form and covered with a cardboard/paper at the back. These pieces typically used large fully feathered spaces in the design...

This antique bracelet from Tibet is both thick and weighty, but it is very small for a Western wrist. The opening measures a scant 1 inch.

Originally, this was the largest of a set of 3 graduated matching silver necklaces. They were worn as a set for festival by the Miao Chinese Ethnic Minority women. The necklace was skillfully hand-formed from a sheet of silver into a curving tapered tube with a reposse pattern of 2 dragons chasing pearl. It spans 10.5 inches across.

This pair of old Chinese toggles would have been used for ornamentation on the costumes of both Han and ethnic minority Chinese. The toggles would be sewn on a jacket or hooked onto a belt. Each of these toggles measure almost 10 inches long. They are made from grade silver which was used extensively in China for jewelry and ornaments during the late 19th century.

I was fortunate to secure a large collection of various old toggles...

Used by the bride for wedding this elaborate kingfisher feather crown is a very old and rare piece. The oldest kingfisher ornaments were made by glueing the feathers onto heavy paper. Metal wire was only used to attach pieces together. Both paper and the feathers are fragile, so not many of these old pieces have survived. This one is in average to good condition, some paper loss and some feather loss...

Needles were a valued woman's sewing tool and were carefully secured in a special case hanging from the belt. This Chinese silver needle case has 6 sides, each with a delicate repousse floral design. The bottom is weighted with a small turquoise and larger amber bead.

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.

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...