Handmade Chinese Miao silver jewelry

Who are the Miao?

Can you imagine wearing 40 pounds of pure silver ornaments from head to toe? Well, the Miao are a nation who proudly show off the beauty with their handmade, elaborately designed silver ornaments in a way that almost covers their entire body! As an ethnic group living in the mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, the Miao believe silver is a symbol of wealth and can bring them good luck. 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 include three different parts: the horns, the hat, and the hood.

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. The headpiece spans about three feet from one horn to another, and reaches almost the same height. So the length of them is half the height of the wearer!

The pictures on the horn are colorful and showy. An image of two dragons playing with a ball is often carved on it. Women like to put a pair of white feathers onto the horn to make it higher and more impressive, or decorate the horn with other kinds of silver jewelry like butterflies and phoenixes.

Silver hat: A silver hat is the base of the headdress and can be a foot tall. It’s completely covered with silver flowers, birds, animals, bells, and

tassels. There are twelve pieces of silver feathers hanging behind the hat and reaching 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 features five ornaments set on it, with the largest one at the center falling from the forehead and the others dropping around ears.

And in other areas, a silver hood has three distinctive layers. The highest layer sports 29 sparkling, round silver flowers. The middle layer has a round glass in the middle, and 14 warriors riding horses at each side. The lowest layer is fringes.

Silver hairpins

Miao silver hairpins always feature flowers, birds, and butterflies. The most striking designs feature 10 silver flowers which look like a Chinese fan. Colorful beads glisten in the flowers and five silver phoenixes fly around the center.

Some hairpins look like chopsticks decorated with silver bells or long tassels.

Silver combs

Miao women use a silver comb to decorate their hair. The comb is made of wood with a thin layer of silver slices covered on its surface. On the surface of a comb you can see the image of a Bodhisattva, or beautiful patterns of flowers, dragons, and birds. Some combs have long silver chains hanging down.

Silver earrings

Tiny Miao silver earrings are often shaped like flowers, birds, butterflies, dragons, or plants. Miao women usually wear 3 or 4 pieces of silver earrings at one time. A single silver earring can weigh 200 grams, and reach all the way down to their shoulders. But many small earrings have threads which are as thin as a piece of paper.

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 features two dragons playing with a ball and has 11 different ornaments hanging from it. Another kind of neckband has 14 silver rings linked tightly together, while silver birds or butterflies hang down from each ring.

Silver bracelets

The Miao silver bracelets are engraved with the images of flowers, fish, or dragons. Some bracelets feature wide bands which is like the cuffs worn by warriors in ancient times. Miao women usually show off many silver bracelets at one time, sometimes more during festivals or holidays.

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 can be half the length of their fingers.

Silver garments

Tiny silver slices or threads are commonly woven into the fabric of Miao clothing. About 40 main silver pieces can be used, all of which are in round or square shape.When place on a silver garment, the clothing shine beautifully when the Miao walk or dance.

Each piece features lovely designs like flowers, phoenix, butterflies, and tigers.

The garments sometimes have about 60 silver bells hanging, which make beautiful sounds when the Miao walk or dance.

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 anklets

Last but not least are small but sturdy silver anklets that clasp above the foot. Miao children wear silver anklets to keep off evil spirits.