hair pin

White metal hair pin from Laos, possibly of Hmong origin, in the shape of a poppy (Papaver somniferum) seed-head. The pin is thin and the tip is pointed. At the decorated base, white metal wire is wrapped and merges into the large ovoid seed head. The seed head is striated (three sets of four vertical markings, evenly spaced), possibly in a representation of bleeding the poppy for opium. The top of the seed head (the base of the pin) is stylised: a ten sided open work floral pattern is tipped with a white metal hemispherical dome.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
2012.50
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 151 mm x 20 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
metal; wire
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
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Collection Information

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