This ear plug represents a fraction of the wide repertoire of silver jewellery made, worn and exchanged by highland communities in northern Thailand, which include the Akha, Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lisu and Yao. It was made from sheet silver cut and soldered together. On each end there are finely engraved bands. The whole earring was inserted into an enlarged hole in the ear lobe. These ear ornaments were probably worn by Karen.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.This earring represents a fraction of the wide repertoire of silver jewellery made, worn and exchanged by highland communities in northern Thailand, which include the Akha, Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lisu and Yao. The whole earring was inserted into an enlarged hole in the ear lobe. These ear ornaments were probably worn by Karen.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, Akha, Lisu, Lahu, Hmong, and Yao are six ethnic minority groups who migrated into Northern Thailand from Burma, Laos and Vietnam during the 18th and 19th centuries.
