Miao Bracelets from Guizhou: Ancient Silversmithing Reinterpreted in Copper

Félicie
Jun 7
1 min read

The Miao people are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in China, living in tight-knit communities in the province of Guizhou.

Silver jewellery is one of the most iconic crafts of the Miao, traditionally made by hand by men. Beyond its artisanal dimension, it carries deep cultural significance: these pieces indicate clan membership and symbolise the wealth of young women before marriage. Once made exclusively in silver, they are now also crafted in white copper — lighter and more accessible.

It was during my first trip to Guizhou that I discovered these bracelets, worn by the women of a small Miao village where we had stopped for lunch. I stumbled upon the workshop of the artisan who makes them, and that is how we began working together. Once my order is ready, he sends the bracelets to Shanghai, where my leather workshop applies the pieces of leather — meticulous work, as each one must be sewn by hand to follow the curve of the bracelet. It simply cannot be done by machine!