Title
Chain
Year/Period
Early 20th century
Region
Northern Thailand
Dimension
Object size: L88.1 cm 82.0 x 6.8 x 2.2 cm
Accession No.
1993-00784
Collection of
This necklace represents a fraction of the wide repertoire of silver jewellery made, worn and exchanged by highland communities in northern Thailand. This type of chain is worn Yao women.For many highland communities, silver was valued more highly than gold. Silver jewellery was a way of investing a family’s wealth to be passed down as heirlooms. It was also believed to have protective properties. Today, where security maybe a problem, silver is kept locked away while aluminium is used as a substitute.The Mien or Yao as they are often called, migrated during the mid 19th century from Laos to Thailand.
