Vintage Antique Hmong Tribal Pure (99.99%) Rare Silver Torque Collar 362 grams (12.8 oz) Early 20th Century

Incredible, rare, antique Hmong tribe pure silver torque, collar neck-piece.

This piece is a stunning addition to any collector of tribal jewellery.

Weight 362 grams (12.9oz)
Height of collar (top to bottom) 7.6"
Width of collar 6.8" (widest point)
Gap of torque 6.5cms

Internal measurements - 13.7cms width x 15cms height

Thickness of round section of the collar - bottom section 35mm
Thickness of round section at the top, near the point tapers to 6mm

Made from almost pure, 99.99% high content silver, this remarkable antique silver torque was crafted by the Hmong, an ethnic minority found throughout SE Asia and southern China. The Mien (Yao) also wore and produced this style of neck ring.

The Hmong are well known for their superior silversmith skills and unique designs. This neck band is of a tubular design and has been incised with a simple floral/bird traditional design at the down-turned ends. This silver torque has received a light polish, and while there are very light scratches present, the overall condition is excellent.

Hmong information:-

The Hmong's love of silver and silversmith skills are widely known and admired. They keep a great deal of their family wealth in the form of silver jewellery. All Hmong men, women, and children wear silver neck rings, at least on special occasions. During ‘the naming ceremony', a silver neck ring is given to a Hmong baby to assert that the baby belongs to the human world. To the Hmong, silver symbolizes not just wealth but the essence of a good life.

Households acquire as much silver as possible and during New Year all the families' silver comes out on display. There are three main styles of earrings worn by Hmong women- that shaped like an arrow, with the shaft bent around to form a circle, an elongated S shape, usually flattened with a pointed plug worn through the earlobe and a horseshoe shape with flattened end. White Hmong wear heavy round bracelets with engraved designs and neck rings, which may be solid or hollow. Lock shaped pendants with a variety of designs are also frequently worn, sometimes at the back of the neck rather than the front. These ‘soul lock pendants' are presented during ‘curing ceremonies' to lock the restless soul to the body until the appropriate time to die arrives. As the New Year approached in years past, Hmong silversmiths would melt silver bars and necklaces to repair jewellery and prepare new ornaments for the coming celebrations. In the early part of last century, silver was often obtained through melting French silver coins.

Today, several Hmong have reported dissatisfaction with commercially available silver, citing problems with lustre, tone and malleability. Antique Hmong silver jewellery is almost without exception better crafted, and of a higher silver content than that being produced today. So popular is antique Hmong silver jewellery that cheap, unattractive replicas are produced for commercial sale. Authentic antique Hmong jewellery when it can be found now commands a high price.

Open to sensible offers.