Miao Necklace Counterbalance

Miao Necklace CounterbalanceThe Dong and Miao people of southern China began melting down standardized silver to make jewelry starting around the 14th Century. Their work is as distinctive as it is beautiful. Unmarried Miao women might wear up to 20 lbs of jewelry at festivals, and a counterweight like this one made it easier for women to wear their jewelry without affecting their balance. The knobbed form of this particular counterbalance is unusual; typically these take the

cleanse corruption

preventing loads from slipping forward on steep paths

Three Korean fishing rods (Gyeonji) made of bamboo

and pronounced creasing

The shrine is in excellent condition

It has projecting tenons for hanging from the ceiling with a rope

with a piercework band or scrolling cloud karakusa at the top and another enclosing the center of the window panels with repeating paulownia crests

Mounted on a contemporary steel stand for display

The pine tree symbolizes steadfast strength

Weighing almost 30 lbs

for legal and commercial purposes

which conveyed the ideals of Korean Confucian state that was preeminent at the time