MSI652

PAIR OF ANTIQUE BRONZE TRIBAL EAR HOOK EARRINGS – NORTHERN THAILAND OR CAMBODIA – CIRCA LATE 19TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURY – HAND-CAST – FLORAL SUNBURST MOTIF

THIS UNIQUE PAIR OF BRONZE EARRINGS FEATURES A TRADITIONAL HOOK SHAPE ENDING IN AN ORNATE SUNBURST OR ROSETTE-LIKE FINIAL. CAST BY HAND, THESE EARRINGS BEAR SIGNS OF AGE AND RITUAL USE, WITH VISIBLE VERDIGRIS PATINA AND TRACES OF FORMER GOLD GILDING OR LEAF DECORATION.

THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SUGGEST ORIGINS AMONG HIGHLAND ETHNIC GROUPS SUCH AS THE LAO ISAN, TAI LUE, KAREN, OR KHMER COMMUNITIES FROM THE NORTHERN THAI-LAOS BORDER OR EASTERN CAMBODIA. THESE FORMS WERE COMMONLY WORN BY WOMEN AS SYMBOLS OF BEAUTY, RANK, OR SPIRITUAL PROTECTION.

MATERIAL: CAST BRONZE WITH POSSIBLE REMAINS OF GOLD LEAF
PERIOD: CIRCA 1880–1930
ORIGIN: NORTHERN THAILAND OR CAMBODIA – GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION
TRIBAL ATTRIBUTION: POSSIBLY LAO ISAN, TAI LUE, KAREN, OR KHMER
WEAR STYLE: HOOK-STYLE EARRINGS FOR STRETCHED EARS
DIMENSIONS: APPROX. LENGTH 35MM | WIDTH 15MM | DEEP 20MM
EARLOBE HOLE: 2MM
WEIGHT: 4.74 GRAMS PAIR (2.35G EACH APPROX)
CONDITION: GOOD WITH NICE PATINA – ONE EARRING MISSING INNER FLOWER SECTION (SEE IMAGE)
NOTES: ETHNOGRAPHIC AND COLLECTIBLE – EXCELLENT DISPLAY OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP – NO MODERN ALTERATIONS

REFERENCE:
PEOPLE OF THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE – Page: 60 - BY PAUL and ELAIN LEWIS – River Books
A WORLD OF EARRINGS Africa – Asia – America – Page: 221 - BY ANN VAN CUTSEM – SKIRA

THIS PAIR IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF AUTHENTIC HIGHLAND SOUTHEAST ASIAN JEWELRY. IDEAL FOR COLLECTORS, RESEARCHERS, OR TRIBAL ART ENTHUSIASTS LOOKING FOR ORIGINAL HISTORIC PIECES WITH CHARACTER.