Miao Necklace Counterbalance All the piece reflects the humble

the piece reflects the humble character of Edo-period folk wares

A set of five lacquered wood plates for Japanese sweets

A Japanese votive wooden mallet from a Shinto shrine

Once created

the spirals represent the interminable essence of life

Miao Necklace Counterbalance All the piece reflects the humbleThe 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