Bracelet Miao
2011
Handmade Chinese Miao silver jewelry
Who are the Miao?
How do you feel to wear 30 pounds of silver ornaments from head to toe? Well, the Miao are a nation who proudly show off the beauty with their handmade, elaborately designed silver jewelry in a way that almost covers their entire body! Being a minority group in the mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, the Miao think the glistening silver is a symbol of light that can bring hope and prosperous future. There are so many different kinds of Miao silver ornaments, here are just a few:
Silver headdresses
Miao silver headdresses are quite a sight and are worn only on very special occasions, like weddings or important holidays. They feature three different parts: the horns, the hood, and the hat.
Silver horns: The silver horns are the most important part of a Miao silver headdress, and they are crafted to mimic the horns of an ox. From one horn to another, the headpiece can stretch nearly three feet and reach almost the same height. So they reach nearly half the height of the wearer!
The designs of the horn can be quite ornate. They often sport a beautiful design of two dragons playing with a ball. Women put some silver flowers, butterflies, or a pair of white feathers onto the horn to make it higher and more attractive.
Silver hat: A silver hat is the base of the headdress and can be a foot tall. It’s entirely covered with silver animals, birds, flowers, bells, and tassels. Twelve pieces of silver feathers hang behind the hat, and reach directly to their waist.
Silver hood: The silver hood hangs down from the hat and covers parts of the face and neck. In some Miao areas, the silver hood sports five beautiful ornaments, with the biggest one at the center hanging from the forehead and the others falling around ears.
And in other Miao areas, a silver hood features three different layers. The highest layer has 29 beautiful, round silver flowers. The middle layer sports a bright, round glass at the center, and 14 warriors riding horses standing at each side. Beautiful fringes form the lowest layer.
Silver hairpins
Miao silver hairpins always feature flowers, birds, and butterflies. The most impressive designs feature about 10 silver flowers placed like a Chinese fan. Beautiful beads sparkle in the flowers, with five silver phoenixes fluttering around.
Some hairpins look really cool, like chopsticks with tassels and silver bells glistening into them.
Silver combs
Miao women use a silver comb to decorate their hair. The wooden comb has a layer of silver slices covered on its surface. Patterns of flowers, birds, dragons, or the image of a Bodhisattva are usually carved on the surface. Some combs have long silver chains hanging down.
Silver earrings
Intricate Miao unique silver jewelry is often shaped like flowers, birds, butterflies, dragons, or plants. Miao women like to wear 3 or 4 pieces of silver earrings at the same time. A single silver earring can weigh 200 grams, falling down directly to their shoulders. But many small earrings have very fine threads which are nearly invisible.
Silver neckbands
Wide silver neckbands are similar to necklaces in the West, but they are rigid and have many pendants hanging down from them. There are many kinds of neckbands popular in the Miao areas.A dragon silver neckband sports two dragons playing with a ball and has 11 various ornaments falling from it. Another kind of neckband has about 14 connected silver rings, with some silver flowers or birds falling from each ring.
Silver bracelets
The Miao silver bracelets are engraved with the images of flowers, fish, or dragons. Some bracelets have wide, heavy bands that look like the cuffs worn by ancient warriors. Miao women often wear 4 or 5 pairs of silver bracelets at the same time.
Silver rings
A Miao silver ring is usually quite small and has fine pieces of silver bent and shaped into flowers, birds, or plants. In some Miao areas, women have rings on all eight of their fingers, but with their thumbs free. Some rings are half the length of their fingers.
Silver garments
Tiny silver slices or threads are commonly woven into the fabric of Miao clothing. There are usually 44 main silver pieces that can be used, all of which are square or round shapes. When put on the front and back of a silver garment, the clothing gleams bright and catches the light when the Miao walk.
Beautiful patterns like butterflies, flowers, phoenix, and lions are engraved on each piece.
Also, sometimes as many as 60 silver bells can hang from the garments, which make beautiful sounds and add to the overall look.
Silver waistbands
A silver waistband features hundreds of silver images of Bodhisattvas sewn on a piece of cloth. The Miao wrap it tightly around their waist, and the images shake and sparkle brightly when the Miao dance.
Silver anklet
Last but not least are small but sturdy silver anklets that clasp above the foot. Silver anklets are usually worn by Miao children to drive away evil spirits.
Handmade Silver Bracelets From The Miao People Cannot Be Found In The USA
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