Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Ethnic (30)

This traditional Miao Chinese Minority hair pin would have been worn by young woman for festival. The butterfly motif is in reference to the Miao creation myth. The hair pin is 5 inches long.

Many pieces of turkmen "jewelry" were sewn to clothing as amulets. This rare teke turkomen pendant was originally worn as a necklace and still has the original leather neckstrap. This piece has 5 flat carnelians and gold wash or "fireguilded" detail. The pendant is 6 inches across and 10 inches long.

This pair of low grade silver Chinese Bracelets are Miao Ethnic Minority. Low grade silver was used extensively throughout China during the 19th and early 20th century. To a Westerner the backs look like the bracelets are adjustable, this is a decorative element only and they are not adjustable. The fronts are deeply etched with animals. At the widest point in the front the bracelets measure 1.25 inches...

This antique Chinese silver bracelet is hinged at the back and opens in the front. The silver work displays plant leaves and a bird. The bead work is both coral and turquoise. Bracelet is stamped "China" which according to trade laws makes it late Qing, about 1890. Its in very good condition

This antique pair of earrings are from the Miao Chinese Ethnic minority The original "wires" are a bit thick and buyer may want to change them to accomodate contemporary pierced ears... Assumbed to be low grade silver which was typically used in old China... the cubes have the same decorative elements on all 4 sides...each cube has a series of drop dangles hanging from the bottom full length of earings 2 inches ....not including the wires

Common to South Arabia and Yemen, the mesh "labbeh" or "Kirdam" were worn wrapped around the neck or attached to the sides of the headgear hanging down as a frame to women’s chin. This particular libbeh is from the late 1800’s–early 1900. This very finely made tribal labbeh has elaborate lengths of filigree and numerous dangling beads...

The groups of Yao minority live in in both China and Thailand. This necklace is of low grade silver which was typical of the Chinese jewelry around the late 1800's and early 1900's. The necklace is light weight and comfortable to wear.

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.

This antique Tibetan neckace bronze pendent has a cast bronze pendent with coral and turquoise beads. The pendent is suspended from a hand made chain.

Large by Western standards, this is actually the "childs" size version of this foo dog necklace worn by the Chinese Miao minority 70-90 years ago. Made of low grade silver, typical of Chinese jewelry of the time period, the intricate pendant is 5.5 inches across, 6.5 inches long and suspended from a long hand-made chain. The heads of the foo dogs are in a pin which allows them to turn freely and the central "flower" is also suspended on a wire which allows it to spin...

This stunning large necklace has multi stands of red/orange and black beads. The outside strands are decorated with a few small bronze bell forms and separated with cast bronze separators. This necklace is from Cameroon Africa. The natural fiber cording ends are woven together and topped on one side with a shell and on the other side with a loop...together forming a clasp...very similar construction to necklaces out of Nepal

This pair of traditional silver ear plugs were worn in the enlarge holes of the Yao woman of China and Thailand. The same filgree pattern is on both sides of the earplugs. The plugs are 1+ inches in diameter and 1/2 inches thick.

Antique matching pair of bracelets, decorated with wonderful granulation work. The intricate post section has tiny "jewels". interior (around wrist) measures app 7.5 inches 7/8 inches high...not including clasp posts .5 inches thick One side of the post twists open to allow for easy on and off...I prefer to sell as pair...but will sell separately... $325 for the pair...or $175 each

This emerald green glass bangle started life during the late Qing Dynasty as one of 2 handles on a ladies rank badge embroidered purse... The other handle was broken which rendered the purse unusable...and the embroidery was sold separately... Bangle measures interior diameter 2.75 inches so...it will fit a large hand/wrist...

Oval shaped pendant decorated with surface decoratrion and bits of gold detailing, all circling a large lapis lazula stone... This pendant was brought out of China sometime in th 60s/70s...along with many other vintage bits and pieces of old jewelry collected thoughout of China...

Old hand made tribal turkomen moon shaped silver necklace with carnelians with original chain...easy to wear...

This vintage/antique lapis lazuli beaded necklace has lapis stones which are both variagated in color and graduated in size. At each end of the necklace is a silver ball next to the barrel clasp. This strand of perfectly matched graduated beads measures 20 inches long.

this antique Tibetan pendant may have originally been used as earring or clothing ornament. I have slipped a simple black cord so it can now be used as a necklace. Coral and turquoise beads and silver decorations are all strung on a long silver post, so they can pivot around. the silver filigree disc at the bottom is missing one small filigree wire element, and possibly there was one a small stone in the middle of the disc...pendant measures 3+ inches long