MSI018

ANTIQUE SILVER YAO EARRINGS WITH DANGLING LEAF

RARE ANTIQUE YAO (MIEN) TRIBAL EARRINGS FROM NORTHERN LAOS OR NORTHERN THAILAND, DATING TO THE EARLY–MID 20TH CENTURY. THESE HANDCRAFTED EARRINGS FEATURE A DISTINCTIVE LEAF-SHAPED DANGLE WITH GEOMETRIC AND FAN MOTIFS, SUSPENDED FROM A GRACEFULLY CURVED SPIRAL HOOK. THE DESIGN IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF YAO SILVERSMITH TRADITION, WHERE NATURAL AND SYMBOLIC FORMS BLEND INTO FUNCTIONAL ORNAMENTS WORN TO EXPRESS BEAUTY AND STATUS.

MADE FROM A SILVER ALLOY (UNTESTED), THE PAIR SHOWS A MELLOW AGED PATINA AND HIGH CRAFTSMANSHIP, REPRESENTING THE REFINED YAO METALWORK OF THE HIGHLAND COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA. SUCH LIGHTWEIGHT AND WELL-PRESERVED EXAMPLES ARE INCREASINGLY RARE AND HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER BY COLLECTORS OF ETHNIC JEWELRY.

WEIGHT: 7.35 GRAM
MEASUREMENTS: LENGTH 40 MM | WIDTH 25 MM
EARLOBE HOLE: APPROX. 4 MM
CONDITION: VERY GOOD FOR ITS AGE – FULLY INTACT AND WEARABLE; ONE EARRING HAS A SMALL MISSING LINE ON THE SIDE (SEE IMAGES).
MATERIAL: SILVER ALLOY (UNTESTED)
ORIGIN: YAO (MIEN) PEOPLE – NORTHERN LAOS / NORTHERN THAILAND
PERIOD: EARLY TO MID-20TH CENTURY
COLLECTIBLE – WEARABLE – AUTHENTIC TRIBAL ART

SELL AS PAIR