'PRUNUS AND LOTUS PETALS' Silk Route Antique Silver Belt

Laos 19th century

An unusually fine, heavy 19th century Lao-Thai version of the silver belts worn as a symbol of prestige and wealth across the silk route for milennia, from Russia east. The elements in this belt incorporate traditions tracing back to the 17th century Kingdom of Lan Xang, a major crossroad for silk route trade and design as well as for Buddhist culture.

Five-part center buckle, 2-1/4" high x 5-1/2" long, each deeply repousse with flowering prunus (flowering plum or cherry blossom) on stippled ground, within lotus-petal borders; domed, above solid back.

Five rectangular keepers are each applied with individual prunus blossom flowers of applied coiled wire, connected by

Five strands of hand-woven silver wire, in two patterns; total 1-1/8" wide.

Circa : second half 1800's to early 1900's

Length : 31-1/4", adjustable to several shorter lengths
Weight : 15.3 troy ounces (476 grams)
Silver : Sterling (.925, unmarked, as typical of age and type)
# mrs 19007 ......................................................................................SOLD