Antique Tribal Silver Jewellery from the Hill Tribes of Southeast Asia

August 16th, 2017

Jewellery and ornamentation is an integral part of Southeast Asian hill tribe cultures, and in the past the value of almost everything was measured in terms of silver. History taught the hill tribe groups that paper money could become worthless overnight and so silver became their trusted currency. In Peoples of the Golden Triangle by Paul and Elaine Lewis, it is stated that, ‘They feel happy and secure when they are loaded down with silver, beads and other valuables’.

Hill Tribe Women of Southeast Asian Wearing Silver Jewellery

In the past, French silver coins were melted down and fashioned into a wonderful variety of forms by highly skilled silversmiths, whom today have all but vanished. Modern silver hill tribe jewellery is markedly inferior in terms of both materials and execution. The vast majority of genuine antique silver hill tribe jewellery has been sold off for cash by villagers long ago, and the pieces that we offer in our gallery represent the remaining trickle of antique silver that becomes available sporadically, a few pieces at a time.

Specific styles of silver jewellery were favoured by the distinct hill tribe groups including the Hmong (White Hmong & Blue Hmong) , Lisu, Mien (Yao), Akha, Wa/Lawa, Karen, Shan, and Lahu. The most prolific and skilled producers of silver jewellery and ornamentation appear to have been the Hmong and the Mien.

Antique Dragon Head Silver Bracelets Worn by the Hmong and Mien (Yao)
Antique Silver Hill Tribe Bracelets

Silver was of special significance to the Hmong and symbolized wealth and the essence of a good life.  At the time of the Hmong New Year, all the family silver jewellery is worn and displayed. Three styles of earrings were favoured by the Hmong; one shaped like an arrow, with the shaft bent to form a circle. Another is an elongated S shape with a pointed plug which passes through the earlobe. The third and more recent is a design of a small silver hook with several small dangles hanging from it. Both men and women wear heavy, engraved silver bracelets as well as flat engraved bracelets. Solid or hollow neck rings are also worn alone or in sets of up to six. Heavy silver chains from which hang lock shaped pendants are also very important to the Hmong and are said to help lock the soul in the body. A variety of silver hair ornaments were also worn traditionally by women, some in the shape of opium poppies (the Hmong were very successful growers of opium poppies).  During the Hmong New year, which falls at the end of the harvest season between November and December, the quantity of silver displayed in previous times was impressive.

Antique Silver Soul Lock Pendants from the Hmong

In Mien (Yao) villages, women and children would wear silver neck rings, sometimes multi-tiered, on festive occasions. From hooked rings, women would suspend silver chains with bells, balls, and dangles attached. Mien women, like the Hmong, wear arrow-shaped earrings with the shafts forming a circle, along with a variety of rings. Heavy silver bracelets were also popular and worn on the left wrist. Also popular amongst Mien women were silver butterflies, birds, flowers, and geometric designs. Soul lock pendants as worn by the Hmong were also worn by the Mien.

The Hmong and Mien (Yao) Wearing Silver Jewellery

The majority of the antique silver jewellery that we offer comes from the Hmong groups of Laos and occasionally the Mien (Yao). There are certain designs that were shared by both groups such as the circular arrow earrings and various styles of bracelets. Featured here are a few examples of antique hill tribe silver jewellery acquired on a recent trip to Laos. Click on any of the photographs featured to be taken to our antique tribal jewellery category.

Antique Silver Hairpins from the Hmong of Laos
Antique Silver Hairpins from the Hmong of Laos
Antique Silver Box from the Hmong

Antique Tribal Silver Jewellery from the Hmong

September 21st, 2016

Having recently returned from a trip to Laos, we wanted to showcase the beautiful tribal jewellery created by the talented Hmong silversmiths of the past. Antique Hmong silver jewellery was made using high content silver and is superior to the work being done today, including the fake Hmong jewellery found in markets and online.

Traditional Hmong Designs on Silver Antique Bracelets
Traditional Hmong Designs on Antique Silver Bracelets

The Hmong, (also known as Meo or Miao) are a strong willed hill tribe people thought to have originated in Southern China some 3,000 years ago. Today the Hmong are found throughout Southeast Asia, the result of significant migration provoked by persecution from the Chinese during the 18th and 19th centuries.  The Hmong were the first hill tribe group to successfully cultivate opium and are known to be shrewd entrepreneurs. Despite the pressures to conform to life in the 21st century, ancient Hmong culture is proving robust to dissolution with much of their customs, traditions and beliefs remaining intact. While the opium poppy fields have largely been replaced with food crops and children are now often educated in local schools, most born into this distinct culture remain proudly Hmong.

Hmong Girls in Traditional Costume
Hmong Girls in Traditional Costume

The Hmong’s love of silver and silversmith skills are widely known and admired. In the past, households acquired as much silver as possible, and during New Year all the families’ silver came out on display.  As the New Year approached, Hmong silversmiths would melt silver bars and old neckbands to repair jewellery and create new ornaments for the coming celebrations.

Hmong Silversmith at Work 20th Century
Hmong Silversmith at Work 20th Century

In the early part of last century, silver was often obtained through melting French silver coins. Silver jewellery was to the Hmong more than a mere decorative show of wealth, but also a representation of their spiritual beliefs. Silver neck rings with lock shaped pendants were given to children in the ‘naming ceremony’ to keep the restless soul from prematurely leaving the body.

Other common forms of jewellery worn by the Hmong include solid or hollow silver torques, flat or hollow bracelets with engraved designs, earrings in a variety of styles, and cone shaped rings often worn on every finger, as well as hairpins; some in the shape of the opium poppy. A single pair of silver earrings could take a master up to five days to complete and one mistake could ruin days of work.  We’ve included a few images of antique Hmong jewellery acquired on our most recent trip to Laos and now available in the gallery. The last image is of one of the loveliest examples of Hmong silver work we’ve seen to date – a 19th century medicine box from Luang Prabang, where the Hmong have lived for centuries.

Antique Hmong Silver Jewelry
Antique Hmong Silver Bracelets
Antique Tribal Jewellery
Antique Hmong Silver Earrings
Antique Hmong Tribal Jewelry
Antique Hmong Silver Hairpins
Antique Hmong Silver Neck Rings with Soul Lock Pendants
Antique Hmong Silver Neck Rings with Soul Lock Pendants
Antique Silver Jewelry
Antique Hmong Silver Torques
Antique Hmong Silver Soul Lock Pendants
Antique Hmong Silver Soul Lock Pendants
Antique Silver Medicine Box
19th Century Hmong Silver Medicine Box

View Tribal Jewellery Collection

Copyright sabai designs gallery 2016

Asian Antiques from Laos: Opium Pipes, Tribal Silver Jewellery, Bronze Temple Bells & Opium Weights

March 5th, 2014

On our most recent trip to Laos in search of antiques and artifacts for the gallery it soon became apparent how few genuine antique pieces were available compared to previous visits. However with a determined effort we managed to find some special items from the 19th and early 20th century which we are highlighting here. Also included are a few photos from the wonderful Wat Si Saket and Haw Pha Kaew Museum, King Setthathirat’s former royal temple. Just click on the images below to be taken to the relevant page for each category.

These are the two finest antique opium pipes that we have had in the gallery to date. Genuine antique opium pipes are exceedingly rare now, having become a highly sort after international collectible. These two pipes were used by the Hmong hill tribe people and are of Chinese origin, being much more refined than most hill tribe opium pipes.

Antique Opium Pipes from Laos
Antique Opium Pipes from Laos

Below is a small collection of antique hill tribe silver jewellery, much of it from the Lao Hmong, and includes soul lock pendants, bracelets, and torques.  These are wearable pieces from the late 19th – early 20th century with a silver content of about 92%. They have been given a light clean but can be brought to a high shine if desired. The Hmong are famous in Southeast Asia for their penchant for silver and the skills of their silversmiths.

Antique Tribal Silver Bracelets from Laos
Antique Tribal Silver Bracelets from Laos
Antique Tribal Silver Torques from the Hmong
Antique Tribal Silver Torques from the Hmong
Antique Soul Lock Pendants from the Hmong
Antique Soul Lock Pendants from the Hmong

This collection of antique bronze bells is from Vientiane where they once hung from the eves of temple buildings before being replaced by newly donated bells. They have developed a lovely aged patina and possess distinct ring tones, which at the temple are heard as a reminder of the Buddha’s deep wisdom and endless compassion.

Antique Bronze Temple Bells from Laos
Antique Bronze Temple Bells from Laos

We returned from Laos with just these two charming opium weights. They are from Phongsali in the northern mountains and were used by the Hmong to weigh out opium in the 19th century. While Siamese and Laotian opium weights are said to be less accurate than Burmese weights, these two are beautifully cast. The deer is a particularly rare form.

Opium Weights from Laos

We hope that you enjoy these rare Laotian artifacts from a bygone era. Please let us know if there are any pieces that are of particular interest. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about these pieces. We will also soon be listing a few exceptional examples of silk weaving from a studio in Vientiane along with a few antique tribal textiles.

Haw Pha Kaew Museum, Laos
Haw Pha Kaew Museum, Laos
Wat Si Saket, Laos
Wat Si Saket, Laos
Haw Pha Kaew, Laos
Haw Pha Kaew, Laos

Asian Antiques from Laos

October 12th, 2012

Asian antiques from Laos are amongst the most interesting artifacts to be found in SE Asia. With its diverse ethnicity, Laos has a rich tradition of fashioning objects of beauty, many with utilitarian value. The people of Laos enjoy a simple, slow paced lifestyle, and are known for their friendly nature. We always enjoy our trips there and have made some good friends over time, especially ‘Mrs Vong’, an antique dealer who is one of the sweetest and quirkiest people we’ve met in our travels. Here I will feature a few of the antiques that we returned with from our most recent trip there as well as a few silk textiles that, while not antique, embody an art form that draws on techniques and symbolism that are over a thousand years old.

Antique Asian Sword Dha from Laos

This antique sword is commonly referred to as a dha, or daab and is one of the more ornate forms of this style of sword seen. The dha is common to Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma and is thought to date back to as far as the 16th century. It has served for centuries as a key weapon in disputes between neighboring SE Asian countries and is to light handle, and very effective.  We were told that this particular dha was not used as a military weapon but would most likely have been owned by a wealthy Laotian for personal use, indicated by the detailed bronze work found on the handle and scabbard. More commonly, the two bamboo pieces that form the scabbard were bound using rattan and sometimes resin. Read more about this dha

Elephant Opium Weights Laos
Elephant Opium Weights Laos

Elephant shaped opium weights are common to both Laos and Siam and are thought to have been in use from around the late 16th century. The elephant weights featured here are most likely from the 1800s and were popular amongst the Hmong minority hill tribe people to weigh opium. In contrast, animal weights from Burma which were in common use since the 14th century were used to weight a variety of materials including silver, gold, medicines and spices. We have seen genuine elephant weights in three sizes as featured here. Another les common variation is a mother elephant with baby, also available in the gallery.  Read more about elephant opium weights

Antique Opium Pipes
Antique Opium Pipes

We’ve been looking for genuine antique opium pipes for some time now and were fortunate to find two excellent examples made by the Hmong on our last trip to Laos. The Hmong were the first hill tribe to successfully cultivate opium poppies in the region, most notably in the area known as the Golden Triangle that encompasses Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Burma. Both pipes are from the late 19th century and each is unique – one with a deer horn mouthpiece and the other with a decorated bronze smoking bowl and bone mouthpiece. The other pipe featured is a very handsome tobacco pipe that we couldn’t resist and is decorated with ornate silver bindings, a ceramic bowl and bone mouthpiece.  View our Antique Pipe Collection

Antique Hmong Silver Jewelry
Antique Hmong Silver Jewelry

The Hmong hill tribe people are famous for their love of silver jewelry and in the past fashioned beautiful, often flamboyant adornments by melting down French silver coins. Hmong silversmiths are recognized for their considerable skills and creative designs.  Hmong women often wear several large pieces of jewelry including silver torques, bracelets, pendants and hairpins. Featured here are an antique silver torque, soul lock pendant, and hairpin from the Hmong of Laos.  View our Antique Tribal Silver Jewelry Collection

Silk Wall Hangings from Laos
Silk Wall Hangings from Laos

With a population of just 6.5 million people, Laos is a small country with few exports. One of the most beautiful artistic traditions of Laos is their silk weaving, a tradition that has been handed down from mother to daughter for countless generations. It’s difficult to appreciate from photos alone the beauty of these woven works of art as it is the incredible skill, time and concentration that goes into weaving them. A complicated piece such as the first wall hanging featured here took over a month to complete. Woven into the textiles are deeply symbolic ancient motifs that are an integral part of Laotian culture. 

Please email us info@sabaidesignsgallery.com if you have any questions about any of the items featured here.