Tibetan Gold & Turquoise Official’s Pendant (Sochi)

This thin, pencil-like ear ornament known as a sochi is made from twisted gold and pearled wire, gold sheet, a single pearl-like bead, turquoise pieces, and a long turquoise-coloured glass drop.

Such pendants were worn from the left ear as a badge of office by Tibetan government ministers and officials. They seem to vary in length and number of segments perhaps according to rank.

The gilded hoop at the top of the pendant fitted through the pierced ear but the weight of the pendant usually was supported by a thin strip of silk textile that was attached to the hoop and which fitted over the ear.

See Casey Singer (1996, p. 100-1), Clarke (2004, p. 65), Reynolds (1978, p. 46) and Borel (1994, p. 169) for related examples.

The example here is for a government official, but generally all Tibetans wore at least one earring of one type or another – Borel (1994, p. 169) relates a Tibetan superstition that those who do not wear an earring is likely to be reincarnated as a donkey.

The ear pendant is in a fine condition.

Above: Two examples of official’s ear pendants previously on display in the British Museum.

 

Above: A senior Tibetan government official wearing a single sochi ear pendant as his sign of office.