MSI046

PAIR OF PA-O (TAUNGTHU) SILVER EAR PLUGS – SHAN STATE, MYANMAR
MIX SILVER (NOT YET TESTED) | WEIGHT: 40.05 GRM
MEASUREMENTS: EARLOBE HOLE 10 MM | LENGTH 90 MM | FRONT FLARE WIDTH 45 MM
CONDITION: USED, EXCELLENT | ORIGINAL MATCHED PAIR

RARE TRADITIONAL EAR PLUGS HAND-FORGED BY THE PA-O (TAUNGTHU) PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN SHAN STATE, MYANMAR (BURMA). THESE IMPRESSIVE VINTAGE PIECES WERE HISTORICALLY WORN BY WOMEN WITH LARGE STRETCHED EARLOBES TO SIGNIFY MARITAL STATUS, WEALTH, AND MATURITY. HEAVY SILVER PLUGS OF THIS TYPE OFTEN FORMED PART OF A BRIDE’S DOWRY AND DISPLAYED FAMILY PROSPERITY.

CRAFTED FROM A HIGH-CONTENT OR MIXED SILVER ALLOY, THE DESIGN FEATURES A WIDE CIRCULAR FRONT FLARE WITH TRADITIONAL CONCENTRIC DECORATION AND A LONG CYLINDRICAL SHAFT TO FIT THE EAR. THE HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION REDUCES WEIGHT WHILE RETAINING BOLD DIMENSIONS, MAKING THEM STRIKING COLLECTOR PIECES. MOST EXAMPLES DATE FROM THE LATE 19TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURY AND ARE PRIZED FOR THEIR SCULPTURAL FORM AND RICH PATINA.

IDEAL FOR COLLECTORS OF ANTIQUE BODY JEWELRY, ETHNOGRAPHIC SILVER, OR MUSEUM-QUALITY BURMESE ARTIFACTS.