Hair Pin

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-hair ornaments-hair pins

Culture Li

Date20th Century

Made AtHainan Province, China, Asia

MediumSilver

Dimensions7 7/8 × 5/8 × 1/8 in. (20 × 1.6 × 0.3 cm)

Credit LineAnonymous Gift

Object number2020.8.23

DescriptionLike mainland Chinese minority groups, Li women of Hainan Island would wear complex arrangements of silver ornaments for festivals and other social occasions. Though many of these objects, and even specific designs, were pervasive enough to be found across various Chinese minority cultures, hair pins in this style with a head at the top of the pin were unique to the Li and very in-demand items. Li men commonly gifted these hair pins to women they were courting for marriage. Interestingly examples of this style of hair pin are seen in both silver and bone. The designs along the shaft are more variable but are connected by a shared fortuitous meaning. This hair pin has the 12 figures of the Chinese zodiac split into six figures on each of the shaft’s sides.

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