Dong Miao Tribal Silver Coil Counterweights on Display Stands, Set of 3

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Offered is a set of 3 handcrafted coiled and spiraled sterling silver S-shaped cones (or conical counterwights) that have been … Read more Offered is a set of 3 handcrafted coiled and spiraled sterling silver S-shaped cones (or conical counterwights) that have been mounted on iron stands as decorative objects. The Dong and Miao tribes live primarily in the border hills of Guizhou, Hunan, and Guangxi provinces in southern China and used these hooks on their shoulders and necks, or on their waist bands to fasten their jewelry worn for festivals and weddings, or to carry bundles such as their infants, loads of food, or wares as they go about their tasks.

The continuous spiral motif historically traces back to ancient Neolithic pottery designs in China, symbolizing the perpetual, unbroken "cycle of life". In Dong and Miao cultures, silver ornaments serve as protective talismans to ward off negative influences, as well as crucial components of a daughter's wedding dowry passed down through generations of women ("Men pass down the land; women pass down the silver").

Each of the stands measure 7.75" W x 3.75" D, and with the silver hooks attached they stand 12.75" H. See less