MSI019

ANTIQUE SILVER YAO EARRINGS WITH LEAF-SHAPED DANGLES

ELEGANT ANTIQUE YAO (MIEN) TRIBAL EARRINGS FROM NORTHERN LAOS OR NORTHERN THAILAND, DATING TO THE EARLY–MID 20TH CENTURY. EACH EARRING IS HAND-FORGED FROM A SILVER ALLOY (UNTESTED) AND FEATURES A BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED LEAF-SHAPED PENDANT SUSPENDED FROM A DELICATE CURVED HOOK. THE DESIGN EXEMPLIFIES YAO SILVERSMITHING — A BALANCE OF REFINED CRAFT, SYMBOLISM, AND EVERYDAY WEARABILITY.

THESE LIGHT, ELEGANT EARRINGS RETAIN THEIR ORIGINAL PATINA AND EXCELLENT STRUCTURAL CONDITION. SUCH PIECES WERE WORN AS STATUS SYMBOLS AND PROTECTIVE CHARMS AMONG THE YAO PEOPLE AND ARE NOW HIGHLY VALUED BY COLLECTORS OF TRIBAL AND ETHNIC JEWELRY. WELL-PRESERVED, WEARABLE, AND REPRESENTATIVE OF AUTHENTIC HILL TRIBE METALWORK.

WEIGHT: 7.97 GRAM
MEASUREMENTS: LENGTH 40 MM | WIDTH 25 MM
EARLOBE HOLE: APPROX. 4 MM
CONDITION: VERY GOOD FOR ITS AGE – FULLY INTACT AND WEARABLE (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