The Daalder Collection of Ethnic Jewellery and Adornment, after 2007
Padaung Flower-Money Necklace from Burma

Padaung Flower-Money Necklace from Burma

The Kayan Lahwi, or Padaung women of Burma wore brass coils around their necks, which pushed down the collar bone and compressed the rib cage to make the neck appear longer.

They also made necklaces, which consisted “of high-grade silver barrel-shaped beads at the back, multiple chains, and several silver discs, which are examples of so-called ‘flower money,’ an ancient form of currency in use in northern Thailand and Burma until around 1800. Flower money is not often found for sale. Seen from above, the rough silver discs do indeed look somewhat like flowers (or one could say they resemble shells, or patterns of frost on a window).” (Truus Daalder, Ethnic Jewellery and Adornment)