This bracelet represents a fraction of the wide repertoire of silver jewellery made, worn and exchanged by highland communities in northern Thailand. Several types of bracelets with coiled, plaited and twisted forms were worn. Wrapped in coils of thick silver wire, this solid loop of silver end in spirals. This type of bracelet was mainly worn by the Wa and the Lawa people.The Wa and Lawa are ancient aboriginal people of northern Thailand. Silver was valued more highly than gold by many highland communities. 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.
