MSI506

ANTIQUE SILVER-ALLOY MEO TRIBE EARRING - PLUG – NORTHERN THAILAND / LAOS HIGHLANDS – EARLY TO MID 20TH CENTURY

THIS RARE SINGLE ANTIQUE EARRING - PLUG WAS HANDMADE BY THE MEO (HMONG) TRIBE OF THE NORTHERN THAILAND–LAOS HIGHLANDS. CRAFTED IN SILVER ALLOY USING TRADITIONAL WIRE-WORK AND ROPE-EDGE TECHNIQUES, IT FEATURES A COMPACT DOUBLE-FLANGE FORM WITH A STAMPED AND COILED WIRE DOME, TYPICAL OF HIGH-MOUNTAIN MEO SILVERSMITHING DURING THE EARLY TO MID 20TH CENTURY.

THE PIECE MEASURES 8MM BY 8MM WITH A 7MM EARLOBE HOLE AND WEIGHS 1.98 GRAMS. THE CONDITION IS VERY GOOD FOR ITS AGE—FULLY INTACT, WEARABLE, AND HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE. SUCH SMALL, SURVIVING TRIBAL PLUGS ARE INCREASINGLY RARE, AS MANY WERE LOST OR MELTED DOWN OVER THE LAST CENTURY.

SALE AS SINGLE PIECE.
Reference:

*- A WORLD OF EARRINGS AFRICA – ASIA – AMERICA – PAGE: 224 - BY ANN VAN CUTSEM – SKIRA