Necklace

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-neck ornaments

Culture Miao

Date20th Century

Made AtGuizhou Province, China, Asia

MediumSilver

Dimensions10 1/8 × 10 × 1 3/4 in. (25.7 × 25.4 × 4.4 cm)

Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih

Object number2015.8.6

DescriptionMiao culture places a high importance on the personal adornment of women. One’s beauty is marked by the heaviness of her ornamentation. Young women adorn themselves from head to toe in silver bracelets, necklaces, neck rings, headdresses, earrings, and other jewelry. The jewelry is an advertisement of their offering to their future husbands’ family upon marriage, particularly during festivals. The adornments also serve to indicate a family’s wealth and status. Women’s silver adornments function as a marriage dowry. Women often keep key pieces from this dowry to pass on to their daughters.

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