Mamuli, small
A small mamuli can be worn as a pendant or earring. This one is much less elaborate than the large Mamuli shown within this collection. The groom gives it to the bride as a wealth payment to her...
View ArticleSpiral Necklace
H'mong women in Guizhou, China, often wear multiples of this silver spiral necklace for special ceremonies such as weddings. They also wear elaborate silver headresses. For more information see...
View ArticleSpiral Necklace, detail
The detail shows how the silver spiral coil is formed from a continuous piece of silver.
View ArticleH'mong Bag
This bag, decorated with silver, is worn for special ceremonies. H'mong people consider attire to be a weapon of seduction and silver is a sign of wealth. The embroidery shows the skill of the woman...
View ArticleWedding Brooch, large
Silver brooches are usually worn in pairs, one on either side at the lower corner of a square neckline on a woman's dress for a wedding or other special ceremony.
View ArticleWedding Brooch, small
A smaller version of a silver Norwegian brooch. They are usually worn in pairs on the lower edge of a square neckline by a woman for a wedding or other special occasion.
View ArticleCoin Necklace
In India it is customary to give brides British coins that are then made into necklaces and worn at the wedding. These coins, strung on red cotton twine, range from 1919 to 1941 with most of them from...
View ArticleMangalsutra
In the northern part of India a bride is given a Mangalsutra, a special marriage necklace composed of very small black seed beads called "Potti". Sometimes the "Potti" are strung with a pendant, like...
View ArticleTali
In Southern India, a "Tali" or "Thali" wood pendant is the marriage symbol. It is strung on a saffron dyed cord.
View ArticleBreastplate
Both the bride and the groom wear a crescent-shaped breastplate for an Indonesian wedding. The breastplates are sometimes worn in multiples - one hanging down from the other with up to 5 in a vertical...
View ArticleCuff Bracelet
An Indonesian bride will wear a cuff or a pair of cuff bracelets on her wedding day. This one is shown on a stand. It is 6 1/2 inches long and has gold wash embossed designs over a silver base.
View ArticleMamuli, large
A Mamuli can be worn as a pendant or as an earring. The groom gives it to the bride as a wealth payment to her father's lineage. It is the custom on Simba Island, also known as Sandlewood Island,...
View ArticleClove Necklace
Arab wives from Southern Iran to Yemen wear aromatic clove necklaces. The pleasing scent is considered attractive, having the same effect as perfume. Cloves, being expensive, symbolize wealth and an...
View ArticleHeirloom Necklace
In Afghanistan each generation adds a strand to the "Wedding" Necklace as it is passed down in the family. It is also called an "Heirloom" or "Generation" necklace. It is uniquely strung with a netted...
View ArticleUzbekistan Wedding Necklace
This wedding necklace from Uzbekistan is loom-woven with larger glass seed beads and has a large silver center bead.
View ArticleTilari
A "Tilari" is seven metal beads strung together on several strands of glass seed beads. The metal beads then look like one large bead instead of seven small ones. In this example, the seed beads are...
View ArticleBachelor Hat
A small round fiber hat with a pair of Mother-of-Pearl drop earrings attached. This hat is worn by bachelor's and sits on the back of the head over a bun and ties under the chin. Married men wear a hat...
View ArticleShell Lei
In Hawaii the Bridal party follows a very old custom of wearing seed pod and shell leis. Our example is similar to, but not as elaborate as a bride would wear.
View ArticleKina Shell Necklace
Kina shells are often worn in multiples by a bride in Papua, New Guinea. The groom gives one to each member of the bride's family as payment for her hand in marriage (bride's price).
View ArticlePhilippine Wedding Necklace
Called a "Sipattal", this Mother-of-Pearl and tiny glass seed beaded wedding necklace is worn by the Isneg Tribe on North Luzon Island in the Philippines. The seed beaded band is worn around the neck...
View Article