Akha Woman's Headdress, Belt and Bracelets; Thailand

BMCA#91.28.1.1,.4,.5,.6
Headdress, belt and bracelets, 20th century
Phami Akha People, Golden Triangle Area, N. Thailand
Silver, fabric and bead This Akha woman’s headdress and jewelry are heirlooms that took many years to assemble since all of the silver had to be accumulated before the ensemble could be completed. The Indian coins are silver, and most of the silverwork was commissioned with Ahka silversmiths in Myanmar (Burma). The beads are from China. The Akha have been migrating from their homeland in southeast China for several centuries, moving into Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. These objects accompany an entire Akha woman's costume, all of which can be currently viewed in the exhibition Art of Adornment: Tribal Beauty.
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