African neck rings before and after

Purchased from Stevens Auction Rooms in ;

Pan Pat, Myanmar — Women of the Kayan tribe in Myanmar are well known for wearing brass coils around their necks their entire lives in order to lengthen it. The belief is the longer the neck, the more beautiful the woman. The cultural practice does have its drawbacks. The brass coils can weigh up to 20 kilogrammes, making work in the fields extremely painful and difficult. Curiously, the Kayan say this custom was originally established to make women less attractive, thereby protecting them from being kidnapped by rival tribes.

African neck rings before and after

Neck rings are an interesting fashion choice. Many cultures have a different standard of beauty, and while I can't quite identify why somebody would make the choice to wear neck rings I certainly respect their choice to do so. Neck rings are used to give the appearance of an elongated neck in many countries throughout Africa and Asia. I say 'give the appearance' because these neck rings don't actually stretch the neck. We will get into what is actually happening, as well as taking a look at the cultural significance of this fascinating practice. I've seen this in action for myself on a trip to Thailand and neck stretching can't truly be appreciated until you actually lay eyes on it for yourself. Well, as stated the neck isn't actually being stretched by these rings. Instead, the clavicle is deformed and pushed downwards. It can also reshape the ribs in the same way. The neck rings slowly push these bones downwards by around 45 degrees. This can give the illusion of an elongated neck, which is seen as a thing of beauty by many cultures. Neck rings are recognizable worldwide, but have you wondered about the most famous piece of jewelry? Read all about it! Neck rings are usually made from brass or gold alloys.

Published On 17 Sep 17 Sep I feel it's prudent to add that none of the neck rings used are actually complete 'rings' or circles.

Neck rings , or neck-rings , are any form of stiff jewellery worn as an ornament around the neck of an individual, as opposed to a loose necklace. Many cultures and periods have made neck rings, with both males and females wearing them at various times. Of the two most notable types, one is the torc , an often heavy and valuable ornament normally open at the throat. These were worn by various early cultures but are especially associated with the ancient Celts of the European Iron Age , where they were evidently a key indicator of wealth and status , mostly worn by men. The other type is one or more spiral metal coils of many turns, often worn only by married women.

However, one of the apparently most archaic forms of these modifications is wearing neck rings. Neck rings are worn for different reasons peculiar to the person and tribe, but the most obvious one is to create an impression of a long neck. In particular, we will look into the origin of neck rings, what status symbols are assigned to it by different cultures, and its overall influences on the lifestyle of the wearer. For several millennia in both Africa and Asia, neck rings are an ancient culture that has been widely accepted. Though the practice seems to be much farther in human history, anthropologists have only been able to trace its beginning back to the eleventh century. They found it was mostly practiced among circles in India, Asia, and Africa. In the Ndebele tribe of South Africa, the ladies not only wear these rings on their neck, but also around their legs and arms. The rings are usually made of copper and brass. The man or husband, in this case, gives these rings to his female partner, and they are worn as a seal of faithfulness, only to be taken off after her demise. It is quite still unclear why our long-gone ancestors decided to adopt the use of neck rings.

African neck rings before and after

The practice of wearing neck rings, also known as neck elongation, is a cultural tradition observed by certain African tribes. This unique adornment is often associated with the Kayan people of Myanmar, but it is essential to acknowledge that neck rings have also been worn by tribes in Africa, such as the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe. The Ndebele tribe, renowned for their distinctive geometric artistry and vibrant beadwork, have historically recognized neck rings as a symbol of beauty and wealth.

Natural diamond ad cast

January 12, What are some jewelry cleaning life hacks that I need to know? Contents move to sidebar hide. Needless to say, they need to be kept beautiful and shiny which can be accomplished quickly and easily with some premium jewelry cleaning cloths. The custom of wearing neck rings is related to an ideal of beauty : an elongated neck. Although the wearing of neck-rings had been on the wane, with only a few hundred women retaining them, the Thai government ensured the survival of the custom by promoting the women as a lucrative tourist spectacle. By Nikolay Korzhov and Andrey Kovalenko. Published On 17 Sep 17 Sep When Did This Practice Start? This email has been registered. BBC News.

Neck rings are any form of stiff necklaces worn around the neck of an individual.

Cras suscipit quam et turpis eleifend vitae malesuada magna congue. Anthropologists have definitively traces the practice back to the 11th century, but the truth is that is seems to go even further back than that. Another story goes that since the Kayans believe themselves to be descended from the Dragon Mother, the rings emulated her magical armour that had the power to cure illness and bestow blessings. It makes the neck look slender and graceful, and I can definitely understand the appeal. The neck rings are often treated with anti-chafing ointment or cloth to keep the skin from damage. This article needs additional citations for verification. Padaung Kayan Lahwi women of the Kayan people begin to wear neck coils from as young as age two. As the neck muscles begin to atrophy the head can no longer be supported without the use of the neck rings. The alternative, an accelerated process at around the age of twelve, when girls first begin to compete for the attention of boys, is painful. Read Edit View history. BBC News. The weight of the coils will eventually place sufficient pressure on the clavicles collarbone to cause them to deform and create an impression of a longer neck. They also symbolize a wife's fidelity to her husband in many places.