MSI496

ANTIQUE TRIBAL FLOWER EAR PLUG PAIR – SOUTHERN LAOS HIGHLANDS (BRAO / LAVEA REGION) – EARLY 20TH CENTURY

THIS RARE PAIR OF ANTIQUE EAR PLUGS FEATURES A STRIKING CAST FLORAL MOTIF TYPICAL OF TRIBAL GROUPS FROM THE SOUTHERN LAOS HIGHLANDS, INCLUDING THE BRAO, LAVEA, AND ASSOCIATED ETHNIC COMMUNITIES OF ATTAPEU PROVINCE.
THE DESIGN DISPLAYS A TIERED, GRANULATED DOME WITH RADIATING PETAL CUTOUTS, PRODUCED USING TRADITIONAL LOST-WAX CASTING METHODS. THESE PLUGS ARE MADE FROM A SILVER ALLOY OR BRONZE (NOT YET TESTED), WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH MATERIALS USED BY HIGHLAND TRIBAL METALSMITHS IN THE EARLY 1900S.

THE PAIR SHOWS EXCELLENT AGE CHARACTER, WITH A DEEP NATURAL PATINA AND CLEAR SIGNS OF AUTHENTIC TRIBAL USE. ONE PLUG IS MISSING ITS STEM (HOLLOW TUBE), BUT BOTH FRONT FLOWER HEADS REMAIN INTACT AND WELL-PRESERVED. THIS TYPE OF JEWELRY WAS WORN AS STATUS-MARKING BODY ORNAMENTS, REFLECTING SOCIAL IDENTITY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE WITHIN THE REGION.

A RARE AND HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE SET FOR SERIOUS COLLECTORS OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN TRIBAL JEWELRY, HISTORICAL METALWORK, AND ETHNOGRAPHIC BODY ORNAMENTS.

WEIGHT: 10.57 GRAM
MEASUREMENTS: LENGTH 80 MM | WIDTH 30 MM
EARLOBE HOLE SIZE: 4 MM
CONDITION: VERY GOOD FOR AGE, ONE PIECE MISSING STEM (HOLLOW PLUG TUBE), FRONT ELEMENTS FULLY INTACT
SALE AS PAIR