MSI017

ANTIQUE SILVER YAO GIANT PLUG EARRINGS

AUTHENTIC ANTIQUE YAO (MIEN) TRIBAL EAR PLUGS FROM NORTHERN LAOS OR NORTHERN THAILAND, DATING FROM THE EARLY TO MID-20TH CENTURY. THESE LARGE, BEAUTIFULLY BALANCED PLUGS FEATURE A DOMED FLORAL REPOUSSÉ FACE SURROUNDED BY FINE CONCENTRIC BEADED WORK — A HALLMARK OF YAO SILVERSMITH ARTISTRY. TRADITIONALLY WORN BY YAO WOMEN AS A SYMBOL OF IDENTITY AND STATUS, EACH PIECE WAS HAND-FORMED FROM A SILVER ALLOY (UNTESTED) AND DESIGNED FOR STRETCHED EARLOBES.

DESPITE THEIR AGE, THIS PAIR REMAINS FULLY INTACT, WELL-PRESERVED, AND WEARABLE, WITH A NATURALLY AGED PATINA CONSISTENT WITH GENUINE FIELD-COLLECTED TRIBAL JEWELRY. SUCH LARGE EXAMPLES IN EXCELLENT CONDITION ARE INCREASINGLY RARE, MAKING THEM BOTH MUSEUM-GRADE AND COLLECTOR-WORTHY.

WEIGHT: 46.15 G
MEASUREMENTS: LENGTH 60 MM | WIDTH 50 MM
EARLOBE HOLE: APPROX. 15 MM
CONDITION: VERY GOOD FOR ITS AGE — INTACT, WEARABLE, COLLECTIBLE
MATERIAL: SILVER ALLOY (UNTESTED)
ORIGIN: YAO (MIEN) PEOPLE — NORTHERN LAOS / NORTHERN THAILAND
PERIOD: EARLY TO MID-20TH CENTURY