A PAIR OF AKHA TRIBE SILVER TEMPLE AND HEADDRESS ORNAMENTS WITH SPIRALS
Collected in Laos, made by the Akha tribe, Burma (Myanmar), South East Asia, late 19th - 20th century

Each ornament designed as a thick flattened silver wire of compressed circular shape, the curved, outward-projecting terminals folded into a uniform, coil-like, spiral design.

Each approximately 7cm x 5.5cm

Total 70gr. (each 35gr.)

The spiral design on the terminals of these ornaments seems to be quite fitting with the Akhas' tribal values and mission. Indeed, among the main six South East Asian tribes residing on the borders of Thailand (e.g. Karen, Hmong, Mien, Lahu, Akha, and Lisu), the dominant theme of the Akhas is a desire for continuity. The first and possibly most important form of continuity for this tribe relies on a strong and respectful relationship with their ancestors, whose names ought to be learnt by heart in chronological order back to 'the beginning of human beings'. Everything is part of a plan and must fit into a 'historical' chain: one day, present descendants will join their ancestors, creating a new class of descendants, starting again the cycle (or spiral) (Paul and Elaine Lewis, Peoples of the Golden Triangle: Six Tribes in Thailand, 1984, p. 10).

Identical ornaments to the present lot can be seen worn as temple jewellery hanging from the sides of elaborate Akha headdress from Burma published in Paul and Elaine Lewis, Peoples of the Golden Triangle: Six Tribes in Thailand, 1984, pp. 216 and 238. For another comparable example, not mounted on a headdress: ibidem, p. 60.