Guizhou Miao Heritage Heavy Embroidered Vintage Earrings

Description

Guizhou Miao Heritage Heavy Embroidered Vintage Earrings. The butterfly is a powerful Miao cultural totem. Miao oral tradition tells of the Butterfly Mother, and the butterfly symbolizes ancestry, continuity, good fortune and beauty. Braid-embroidered pieces once decorated ceremonial garments and head coverings, while butterfly motifs were common in wedding and festival adornment; silver bells were associated with warding off misfortune and bringing blessings. Today, artisans deconstruct vintage embroidered textiles and recombine the floral motifs with butterfly and bell elements, transforming heavy ceremonial textile into lightweight earrings for everyday wear.

Craftsmanship: Made from vintage Miao braid-embroidered textile pieces, all hand-worked and free of machine embroidery. Artisans hand-cut, edge and reinforce the pieces, then assemble them with butterfly silver ornaments and bells. Slight differences in pattern and color are inherent handmade marks.

Specifications: Approx. 8.5cm overall length; square embroidered piece approx. 3 × 3cm; tolerance ±0.3cm; 14–18g per pair

Material: Vintage hand-embroidered Miao textile pieces, vintage homespun cotton, 925 sterling silver ear hooks, ethnic-style alloy butterfly ornaments, Miao silver bell components

Origin: Qiandongnan, Guizhou, China.