Miao Silver Head Ornament

Head Ornament, 20th century
China; Guizhou Province; Miao Culture, Dandu Style
Silver and linen; 13 x 22 in.
Gift of Danny and Anne Shih
2005.32.2 This intricately designed head ornament was worn as part of a Miao woman’s costume for festive occasions. In a technique called repoussé the thin silver was embellished by hammering the opposite side to create each of the detailed patterns and motifs. Included in the design is a butterfly (an ancestor of the Miao), and other meaningful symbols including pheasants, fish, dragons, flowers, and yin-yang symbols. The linen cord still attached to one side of the forehead plate was used to secure the ornament in place. Overall the object is very light in weight and would have been easy to wear. Round attachments on the back of each of the three arms of the object would have held small bird feathers, sometimes in combination with colorful yarn, that added additional height, color and movement.

Dandu style is an attribution given to the group of Miao living in the Sandu, Duyun and Danzhai counties of China’s southeastern province of Guizhou. This group’s festival clothing includes the particular type of three-pronged festival head wear pictured here and batik-dyed spiral on yellow cloth jackets. All images and text under copyright. Please contact Collection Department for permission to use.