Lot 33
East Asia, southern China, Miao people, ca. early 20th century CE. An amazing, massive silvered copper necklace composed of six thick strands of silver, each twisted into a spiral with deeply incised lines that give it the appearance of being made from multiple strands wound together. The terminals curve over at sharply acute angles to hook through thick silver ovoid loops, which are also joined to a thick silver bar meant to rest along the back of the neck. Even this bar is decorated, with three large silver coils projecting from its back at regular intervals. Size: 7.8" W x 8.5" H (19.8 cm x 21.6 cm); silvered copper comprised of 78% copper and 9% silver; weight: 997 grams.
The Miao, one of the largest ethnic minorities in southwestern China, live in a mountainous region drained by several large rivers. Miao women are known for their elaborate silver jewelry, worn at festivals and weddings - with a single woman wearing dozens of pieces: bracelets, rings, anklets, necklaces, belts, etc. with some individual pieces weighing over a kilogram! Fascinatingly, the region the Miao are from has no natural silver deposits, and prior to the 1950s - so during the time when this pair was made - people melted down silver coins, ingots, and other silver items they had to make the jewelry, creating variability in the silver alloys.
Provenance: private Johnson collection, Los Angeles, California, USA
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#153059
- Condition: Light wear commensurate with age but overall in excellent condition with light patina.
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