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Description

Neck ring, hollow cast silver, open on one side. One surface of the ring has a design etched into it and the other side is smooth. On either side of the opening the metal is bent back on itself, and the bent portion is in the shape of an elongated triangle with several protrusions around the outside edge. There are two lengths of silver chain link (made of thin silver wire) attached across the open side of the neck ring, one longer than the other so that it hangs below the other. At the centre of each length of chain is attached a separately cast silver “mithun” or “buffalo head” ornament.

Iconographic Meaning

The buffalo head design represents the highly revered mithun buffalo (called "gaur") once found in abundance in the jungles of the mountainous regions of northeastern South Asia and Indo-China. For many tribes of this region, mithun buffalo skulls are thought to posses great magical powers, especially fertility. Traditional ceremonies honouring the ancestors and the gods demand the sacrifice of the mithun buffalo - animals of immense strength (adult males can weigh over 1700 kilos) who live in inaccessible areas and whose capture is recognized as a feat of great courage, strength and prowess.

History Of Use

Traditionally some Hmong men and all Hmong women wear several of these neck rings in a 'stack' around their necks. These neck rings are a key feature of Hmong women's traditional costumes, which are also comprised of colourful and elaborately hand-woven textiles - jackets, skirts and leggings that, once off the loom, are also intricately embroidered. The women also wear an array of beads, earrings and headdresses decorated with old silver coins and brilliant red pom-poms. Usually the Hmong wear the closed (rounded) side of these necklaces in the front with the open side at the back. The silver chain links and "mithun" or "buffalo head" ornaments hang down the wearer's back, one below the other. This buffalo head ornament is commonly found on this torque-style neck ring as well as on a second type of Hmong neck ring where the open side is worn at the front. On this second style, the open edges are joined by oblong chain links to which are attached several silver chains that hang down loose in front (to about breast level). Attached to the ends of these chains are a combination of old coins, cast silver bells and buffalo head ornaments like these.