Miao People
The Chinese Miao are a minority group who have been making silver jewelry for thousands of years. Their silver headresses are know the world over, and here’s why:
Silver headdresses
Miao silver headdresses are absolutely enormous and take months to craft. They have three parts: the horns, the hat, and the hood.
Silver horns: Miao silver horns look like the horns of an ox. They can be three feet high and weigh several pounds.
All silver horns have amazing designs. Some women like to decorate their horns with feathers or other ornaments to make them even taller.
Silver hat: This is the sturdy base of the Miao headdress. It too is decorated with elaborate scenes and complex silver pieces.
Silver hood: The silver hood hangs down from the hat and covers parts of the face and neck. In some Miao areas, the silver hood has five ornaments placed on it, with the biggest one in the middle dropping from the forehead and the others hanging around ears.