Bridal Ornaments

You see color from afar, pattern nearby.   - Nuosu proverb 
larger view
larger image

Bridal Necklace (zyzyvu) by Shama Qubi


Description:
A very long elaborate silver bridal necklace, 79cm from top to bottom, consisting of various silver segments placed symmetrically on on either side of central yoke shaped piece that goes around neck of bride and ends in a crescent shaped silver piece at bottom end of necklace.

The yoke piece is 13cm wide, 2cm high and is hollow, pattern stamped repousse work. On either side are three woven tubes made of silver rope, somewhat square showing five braids, each tube being 8cm to 9cm long. The lower end of these three tubes is attached to a rectangular piece, center front shows a floral in a square and four curved corners extending out over center square,curving inward.

Rectangle measures 9cm x 6.5cm. The back of this piece is stamped with a simple design. The lower end of this rectangle shows a repeat of woven tubular shapes, 3 each, 5.5cm long. Also attached at this point on the outside of the necklace is a hollow crescent shape stamped with dots and rope design.

Suspended from the crescent shape are ten silver cones dangling free. This second set of woven tubes is followed by a repeat of rectangular hollow shape as described above, except central pattern is a semi-globe. This is followed by a third set of woven tubes, three each, 6cm long.

On the outside of top attachment is placed a hollow rectangular lock shape with two pronounced shoulders and ten silver cones dangling free. There is a bell attached along with rectangular shape. The next section is the third repeat of large hollow rectangle 9cm x 65.5cm, identical to first shape showing floral design in center.

The fourth set of three woven tubes is 6cm long, attached is a bell and a hollow silver silver piece shaped like an oval with a neck in center. Suspended are ten cones hanging free.

This set of woven tubes connects to the large crescent which forms the bottom segment of the necklace. This large crescent is hollow, decorations are suns, moons and birds, identical decoration on front and back of piece. It is 23cm across and 8.5cm at its widest.

On either side of crescent there is a hollow disc with a floral design on one side and geometric on the other with ten cones hanging free. Suspended from large crescent is a bell, seventeen cones on the left side and fifteen on the right, hanging free.

Use:

Worn as a necklace by a bride during her wedding. These can be up to a meter long and weigh as much as three kilograms.
See:
"Mountain Patterns" by Stevan Harrell, Bamo Qubumo, and Ma Erzi. 2000. Fig 5.8 pg 40. For example.

Back to Top
larger view
larger image

Bridal Veil by Shama Qubi


Description:
Bridal veil consisting of an opaque cloth covering to go over entire head made of black, red and green cotton cloth, decorated with silver plates shaped like crescents and disks, the top consisting of a disk from which a bird rises.

Top of veil is made of red circular cloth, 20cm in diameter, outlined with chain stitch of white yarn. In center of this red field is a silver disk, 9cm diameter, geometric design, sewn on to red cloth by hand, supporting a silver bird 4.7cm tall, wings spread out.

The black cotton veil is 33cm long, 218cm in circumference at lower end. Placed symmetrically on to the black field are six sets of silver plates, each set showing a disk 8.5cm diameter with a raised "sun" motif surrounded by geometric patterns. Both above and below this disk are one each silver crescent shape stamped in geometric patterns.

The veil ends in triangles of green cotton cloth edged in red ending in sets of three silver conical tubes 5.5cm long, hanging free. Four tips consist of two tubes and one bell. There are twelve green triangles. Veils is unlined and hand sewn.

How constructed:
Silver plates sewn onto patchwork cloth veil.

Use:
Worn by bride after leaving her house before entering her husband's house.  The cloth covers her head completely, but is thin enough that she can see through it. 

Back to Top
 
Burke logo