MSI718

SINGLE KACHIN GLASS EARRING PLUG – BURMA (MYANMAR) – 19TH–EARLY 20TH CENTURY

A RARE AND AUTHENTIC SINGLE SOLID GLASS EARRING PLUG, DOUBLE-FLARED AND FINELY FINISHED, TRADITIONALLY WORN BY THE KACHIN PEOPLE OF NORTHERN BURMA (MYANMAR). THESE PLUGS DISPLAY A DISTINCTIVE AMBER-IMITATIVE COLOR GRADATION, A WELL-DOCUMENTED SUBSTITUTE FOR NATURAL AMBER WITHIN KACHIN MATERIAL CULTURE DURING THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES.

CRAFTED FROM SOLID COLORED GLASS, THE FORM, SCALE, AND COLOR WERE DELIBERATELY CHOSEN TO PRESERVE THE SYMBOLIC AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF AMBER EAR ORNAMENTS, WHICH WERE HIGHLY VALUED BUT OFTEN SCARCE OR COSTLY. SUCH GLASS EXAMPLES WERE NOT DECORATIVE NOVELTIES, BUT INTENTIONAL CULTURAL SUBSTITUTES, MAINTAINING TRADITIONAL AESTHETICS AND STATUS ASSOCIATIONS.

THESE PLUGS EXHIBIT SMOOTH, HAND-FINISHED SURFACES, NATURAL WEAR CONSISTENT WITH AGE, AND A WELL-BALANCED DOUBLE-FLARED PROFILE DESIGNED FOR SECURE WEAR IN STRETCHED EARLOBES. THE WEIGHT AND PROPORTIONS CONFIRM SOLID CONSTRUCTION RATHER THAN HOLLOW OR MODERN RESIN IMITATIONS.

CULTURE / TRIBE: KACHIN (JINGPHO), NORTHERN BURMA
GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN: NORTHERN MYANMAR (UPPER BURMA)
DATE: 19TH – EARLY 20TH CENTURY
MATERIAL: COLORED GLASS
WEIGHT (PAIR): 19.4 GRAMS
MEASUREMENTS: L 29MM × W 22MM
EARLOBE HOLE: APPROX. 18MM

CONDITION: VERY GOOD FOR ITS AGE. FULLY INTACT, STRUCTURALLY SOUND, AND WEARABLE. SURFACE WEAR AND PATINA CONSISTENT WITH AUTHENTIC USE AND AGE. NO CRACKS OR RESTORATIONS OBSERVED.

A SCARCE AND COLLECTIBLE SINGLE SOUTHEAST ASIAN ETHNOGRAPHIC BODY JEWELRY, SUITABLE FOR SERIOUS COLLECTORS OF TRIBAL ADORNMENT, KACHIN MATERIAL CULTURE, AND HISTORIC EAR ORNAMENTS.

SOLD AS PIECE.
REFERENCE:

*- THE JEWELRY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA - PAGE: 30-31 - ANNE RICHTER - THAMES & HUDSON

*- A WORLD OF EARRINGS AFRICA – ASIA – AMERICA – PAGE: 240 - BY ANN VAN CUTSEM – SKIRA