Photos

Comments

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  Marie-Ange February 19, 2013 at 9:09pm

  This looks lovely, never seen something like this before!
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  Harald February 19, 2013 at 9:20pm

  What a intriguing item this is! Very nice.

  Have the 2 silver (alpaca?) ornaments the same design? The long "bead" looks like a bit like a needle case. What is the thread made of? On the photo looks like a plastic cord but that may be just the way it looks here.
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  howah February 19, 2013 at 9:45pm

  hi Harald, the 2 metal ornaments have the same design. And these are made of silver, though probably around 70% purity. The longer silver ornament is indeed a needle case. It has those big round beads on both sides, but some missing unfortunately. The thread is an orange color plastic cord. I guess the original cord was textile but became too frail so it was replaced with a plastic.

  This type of ornament was worn by the Dong minority in China's South West.

  Here is a stylistically similar type of ornament I found in my book on Chinese jewelry:

   

   
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  Harald February 19, 2013 at 10:44pm

  Thank you! I had the idea I had seen this before and now I know, it was in the collection of a person that collects needle cases.

  Lovely beads too! You should change the plastic, it is easy to use a proper cord.
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  Frankie Carter February 20, 2013 at 2:49pm

  Do you know if the beads are Chinese too, Howah? I think they make a wonderful contrast to the silver - most unusual altogether!
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  Alaa eddine SAGID February 21, 2013 at 9:15pm

  beautiful!!!

  i remember a pendant with a double claw shape when i was shopping at the "chatuchak" market in Bangkok!!

  regret not havng bought it, was told hill tribe

  Congrats
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  Harald February 21, 2013 at 9:50pm

  Ayis, I liked that market (chatuchak) so much, bought nice things there.

   No idea if there still are nice things to be got there.
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  Alaa eddine SAGID February 21, 2013 at 9:57pm

  @Harald

  That market is huuuuuuuuuge!! went there a couple of days and spent the whole day there! loved every bit of it, from souvenirs to pets and the food was yummy!!

  I remember a special wing dedicated to antiques with a couple of shops selling artifacts from all over asia , archeology to ethnic arts!

  one shop was selling only silver hill tribes jewels, very interesting stuff!!

  As winter here in Europe is still scorching us, i would love to hop to thailand for a couple of weeks! lol
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  howah February 21, 2013 at 10:20pm

  Hi Frankie,

  I think those beads could be foreign actually. Possibly traded/imported from bordering areas in Indo-China, but not an export on the subject of beads so can't be sure. The glass beads do lend a ' tribal' touch to the piece, don't you agree?

  @ Ayis: If I remember the text in my Chinese book correctly, this type of ornament is also worn by the Miao people who are the Chinese version of the Hmong people and they are one of the hilltribe people in the Golden Triangle.
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  howah February 21, 2013 at 10:22pm

  I would love to go to Thailand someday soon. The hilltribes have amazing silverwork and textiles. My favorite are those from the Lisu and Yao people.