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A PAIR OF RARE SILVER EAR ORNAMENTS, MIAO PEOPLE China, late 19th to early 20th century. Each piece meticulously crafted in a circular form from tightly coiled fine silver wire, creating a spiral pattern that thickens to form the loop from which the earring is suspended. (2) Provenance: From The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012. Condition: Very good condition with surface wear and manufacturing irregularities. Light warping. Expected tarnishing to silver with occasional minor nicks. Weight: 208.3 g (total) Dimensions: Length 15.2 cm (each) Miao is a term employed in contemporary China to designate a category of ethnic groups residing in southern China and mainland Southeast Asia. The Miao constitute the largest ethnic minority in China without an autonomous region. Their communities are concentrated primarily in the mountainous regions of southern China, encompassing the provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan. Certain subgroups, most notably the Hmong, migrated from China into Southeast Asia, settling in Myanmar, northern Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Silver ornaments have long held great significance among the Miao. Prior to marriage, a young woman was expected to possess a complete set of silver ornaments and clothing, with a silver necklace and earrings regarded as essential. Weddings and major festivals provided occasions for women to display their finest attire and ornaments. Neck and ear adornments rank among the most diverse categories of Miao silverwork and often exceed in variety other types of ornamentation. They continue to be worn in many regions by both women and men. Expert’s note: The distinctive form of these earrings derives from the intrinsic properties of the material from which they were crafted. Silver, like gold and copper, possesses low chemical reactivity and a flexible metallic bonding structure, endowing it with remarkable malleability and ductility. These qualities allow the metal to be drawn into fine wires or hammered into thin sheets without fracturing, and similarly, they permit a metal thread to be coiled, resulting in a logical decorative strategy that is manifested in these earrings as well as in many of the ornamental elements that adorn the material culture of the Miao people. Literature comparison: Compare a related silver ornament, China, Miao people, late 19th century, 25.4 cm long, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 2002.316a, b. Compare a related silver necklace, China, Miao people, ca. 1920, 25.4 cm diameter, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 2010.209.2. Compare a related silver ‘dragon’ necklace, China, Miao people, late 19th to early 20th century, 26.6 cm diameter, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 2007.17.143. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s London, 30 January 2019, lot 34 Price: GBP 2,500 or approx. EUR 4,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A set of Chinese silver neck rings, Hmong tribe, c. 1900 Expert remark: Compare the related material and wired ornamental form. Note the slightly larger size (21 cm) and that the lot comprises five neck rings.

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Silver