This hair ornament represents a fraction of the wide repertoire of silver jewellery made, worn and exchanged by highland communities in northern Thailand. For many highland communities, silver was valued more highly than gold. Silver jewellery was a way of investing a family’s wealth to be passed down as heirlooms. It was also believed to have protective properties. Today, where security maybe a problem, silver is kept locked away while aluminium is used as a substitute.The Karen people, who live in Burma and northern Thailand are the largest highland group in Thailand. Their origins are unknown.
