Skip to main content
Crown, 20th Century
Miao culture; Taijiang or Leishan County, Guizhou Province, China
Silver;…
Crown
Crown, 20th Century
Miao culture; Taijiang or Leishan County, Guizhou Province, China
Silver;…
Crown, 20th Century Miao culture; Taijiang or Leishan County, Guizhou Province, China Silver; 8 × 11 × 10 in. 2020.8.36 Anonymous Gift

Crown

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-head ornaments-crowns & tiaras
Culture Miao
Date20th Century
Made AtGuizhou Province, China, Asia
MediumSilver
Dimensions8 × 11 × 10 in. (20.3 × 27.9 × 25.4 cm)
Credit LineAnonymous Gift
Object number2020.8.36
DescriptionThis is a Miao silver crown, probably from the Guizhou Province of China. Most silver would have been reserved for festival or celebratory wear, most often by unmarried women. Traditionally, silver was worn to ward off evil, with silver’s bright sheen symbolizing light. Over time as it became more culturally pervasive it came to be used as a show of wealth and health for families who could afford to wear the precious metal. Adolescent girls could wear as much as 10 kilograms of silver. When women marry the silver serves as a dowry and is eventually redistributed to their own children. Silversmithing on the other hand is exclusively performed by men and taught from father to son. This crown was specifically reserved for wear in festivals. It is decorated with many of the Miao’s most common zoomorphic and floral motifs including birds, flowers, and butterflies. The central motif is a stylized lotus flower and the row of figures riding horses represents female warriors of which there are multiple examples in Miao oral histories.
On View
Not on view
Collections
Celestial Crown, 20th Century
Yao culture; Yunnan Province, China
Silver; 1/2 × 7 in.
2015.2…
Yao
20th Century
Celestial Crown, 20th Century
Yao culture; Yunnan Province, China
Silver and cloth; 1 × 6 1/4…
Yao
20th Century
Celestial Crown, 20th Century
Yao culture; Yunnan Province, China
Silver; 1 1/4 x 6 7/8 in.
…
Yao
20th Century
Celestial Crown, 20th Century
Yao culture; Yunnan Province, China
Copper, zinc, silver and cl…
Yao
20th Century
Celestial Crown, 20th Century
Yao culture; Yunnan Province, China
Copper, zinc, silver and cl…
Yao
20th Century
Celestial Crown, 20th Century
Yao culture; Yunnan Province, China
Silver, human hair and cott…
Yao
20th Century
Headpiece, 20th Century
Miao culture; China
Human hair and silver; 9 x 3 x 9 in.
2011.23.1a
…
Miao
20th Century
Festival Crown, 20th Century
Miao culture; Guizhou Province, China
Silver and cloth; 20 × 8 1…
Miao
20th Century
Chief's Crown, early to mid 20th Century
Unrecorded Yoruba artist; Nigeria
Fabric, gold, shel…
Yoruba
early to mid 20th Century
Celestial Crown, 20th Century
Miao culture; Guizhou Province, China
Copper, zinc and silver; …
Miao
20th Century
Hundred-bird Costume Panel, 20th Century
Miao culture; Danzai County, Guizhou Province, China
…
Miao
20th Century
Necklace, 20th Century
Miao culture; probably Guizhou Province, China
Silver; 16 × 4 1/2 × 1/…
Miao
20th Century