Vintage Hmong Spirit Locks Necklace ? Or Piece? Tribal

$300.00

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Vintage Hmong Spirt Lock Xuav? Necklace or other piece. I wish I could have found more information on this piece to offer. I have had this piece for SO many, many years and I had planned to use it as a decoration. I never knew a thing about it. I "think" this piece would have been hooked on to another neck piece? It has hooks on either end. I now know the two amulets are called "Spirit Locks". It is VERY heavy at 297 grams. A magnet does not stick to it, so perhaps it is made of nickle? Two tubular pieces at the end appear to be brass. See the 9th photo.

I am not sure of the age. There aren't any marks that I can find on the backs of the amulets and all the chain and amulet rings are not soldered if this helps at all. No missing "charms" or breaks anywhere. It has a little greening on one of the triangular pieces.

I wish I can provide more info on this piece. If you know anything about it, please let me know! Please ask questions before purchasing and I hope I can answer them for you. All sales are final.

This is what I found on the net about this piece. I can't be sure that the following info is true. Because hey, after all, it's the internet!

"Centuries ago, the Hmong people were enslaved by the Chinese and forced to wear necklaces for identification. After their independence, they designed a necklace called a xuav, meaning “chain,” in remembrance of the hardships of their past. Today, xuavs are worn during traditional celebrations as a poignant symbol of the Hmong identity."

Also about spirit locks:

"Spirit Locks are pendants worn by the Hmong and Akha hill tribe people of Thailand, Burma and Laos.

Traditionally these Padlock-esque pendants are worn around the neck often as a counter weight at the back of a neck ring.

The spirit lock is believed to keep the soul, which resides within the head locked to the body.

Spirit locks are gifted to babies to prevent bad spirits from taking the spirit of the child.

In Thai beliefs, an unhappy spirit will leave a body and return to nature within the forest. Fear or stress can be factors which cause a person to lose their spirit. The loss could leave you dull and unable to focus.

If a soul or a spirit appears to have left a person, symptoms of this can be disease, depression and distraction, the Hmong Shaman may perform a soul calling ritual. Once the ritual has recalled the spirit to a person their integrity of life will also be returned and a spirit lock will be used to prevent such a loss in the future."