Jewelry Appraisal Center

Who are the Miao?

Is it amazing to have 30 pounds of silver jewelry from head to foot? Well, the Miao are a a people who love to show off their silver ornaments that would be striking to any foreign visitor! Being a minority group in the mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, the Miao think the glistening silver is a symbol of light that can bring hope and prosperous future. There are so many different kinds of Miao silver ornaments, here are just a few:

Silver headdresses

Miao silver headdresses are quite a sight and are worn only on very special occasions, like weddings or important holidays. They feature three different parts: the horns, the hood, and the hat.

Silver horns: The silver horns are the most important part of a Miao silver headdress, and they are crafted to mimic the horns of an ox. The headpiece spans about three feet from one horn to another, and reaches almost the same height. So they reach nearly half the height of the wearer!

The designs of the horn can be quite ornate. They often sport a beautiful design of two dragons playing with a ball. Women put some silver flowers, butterflies, or a pair of white feathers onto the horn to make it higher and more attractive.

Silver hat: A silver hat is the base of the headdress and can be a foot tall. It’s completely covered with silver flowers, birds, animals, bells, and

tassels. There are twelve pieces of silver feathers hanging behind the hat and reaching to their waist.

Silver hood: The silver hood hangs down from the hat and covers parts of the face and neck. In some Miao areas, there are five glistening ornaments placed on the silver hood, with the biggest one in the middle falling from the forehead and the others dropping around ears.

And in other areas, a silver hood has three distinctive layers. There are 29 round silver flowers which make up the highest layer. The middle layer has a round glass showing off in the center, and 14 warriors riding horses on each side. The lowest layer features fringes.

Silver hairpins

Miao silver hairpins always feature flowers, birds, and butterflies. The most attractive patterns feature 10 silver flowers laid out just like a Chinese fan. In the flowers are some beautiful, glistening beads, and around the center are five silver phoenixes.

Some hairpins look like chopsticks decorated with silver bells or long tassels.

Silver combs

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Miao women use a silver comb to decorate their hair. It is made of wood and is covered with thin silver slices. On the surface of a comb you can see the image of a Bodhisattva, or beautiful patterns of flowers, dragons, and birds. Some combs sport big silver chains dropping down.

Silver earrings

Huge Miao silver earrings are crafted to resemble flowers, birds, butterflies, dragons, or plants. Miao women usually wear 3 or 4 pieces of silver earrings at one time. Reaching directly to their shoulders, a single silver earring can weight 200 grams. But many earrings are quite small, and the fine threads used to make them are almost invisible.

Silver neckbands

Wide silver neckbands are similar to necklaces in the West, but they are rigid and have many pendants hanging down from them. In different Miao areas, the neckbands vary a lot.On a dragon silver neckband you can see the image of two dragons playing with a ball, and 11 various ornaments hanging from it. Another kind of neckband features 14 silver rings linked together, with silver butterflies or birds hanging from each ring.

Silver bracelets

The Miao silver bracelets are engraved with the images of flowers, fish, or dragons. Some bracelets feature wide bands which is like the cuffs worn by warriors in ancient times. Miao women usually wear 4 or 5 pairs of silver bracelets at one time, sometimes more during festivals or holidays.

Silver rings

A Miao silver ring is usually quite small and has fine pieces of silver bent and shaped into flowers, birds, or plants. In some Miao areas, women have rings on all eight of their fingers, but with their thumbs free. Some rings are big enough to cover half the length of their fingers.

Silver garments

Tiny silver slices or threads are commonly woven into the fabric of Miao clothing. There are more than 40 silver pieces in round or square shape that can be used.  When put on the front and back of a silver garment, the clothing gleams bright and catches the light when the Miao walk.

Each piece is carved with beautiful patterns like lions, tigers, phoenix, flowers, butterflies, and dragons.

Sometimes 60 silver bells drop from the garments and make sweet sound.

Silver waistbands

A silver waistband features hundreds of silver images of Bodhisattvas sewn on a piece of cloth. The Miao wrap it tightly around their waist, and the images shake and sparkle brightly when the Miao dance.

Silver anklets

Last but not least are small but sturdy silver anklets that clasp above the foot. Miao children have silver anklets on to keep away from evil spirits and stay safe.

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