Enquiry about object: 4480
Chin Minority Large Brass Spools for a Necklace
Chin People, Western Burma 19th century
circumference: approximately 67cm, lengths of the spools: approximately 12.3cm, 12.7cm, 13.1cm, 14.1cm and 14.6cm; width of the widest spool: 2.8cm, weight: 373g
Provenance
private collection, London.
These large, five brass spiral beads or spools are from the Chin people of Chin state in western Burma, and also in what is now Mizoram state in North-Eastern India. The beads are strung on a cotton twine.
Belts and necklaces of similar beads are illustrated in Richter (2000, p. 137) and Leurquin (2003, p. 245).
The beads are stable and wearable. Each is smooth with wear and has a good patina.
The beads are threaded onto cotton twine but they will be more wearable if re-threaded onto a longer necklace.
References
Leurquin, A., A World of Necklaces: Africa, Asia, Oceania, America from the Ghysels Collection, Skira, 2003.
Richter, A., The Jewelry of Southeast Asia, Thames & Hudson, 2000.
