African neck rings before and after

Neck rings are an interesting fashion choice.

Purchased from Stevens Auction Rooms in ; From the age of about five, a girl is fitted with a small coil around the neck. According to tradition, not all Kayan girls are entitled to wear them, only those born on auspicious days of the week and while the moon is waxing. It was thought that the rings were separate and just added on top of one another but in fact the ornament is always just one long strip of polished metal, wound into spirals. As the girl grows older, the ornaments are progressively replaced by ones with more coils until marriage when a final tower of coils like the one shown here is worn.

African neck rings before and after

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. In a few African and Asian cultures , neck rings are worn usually to create the appearance that the neck has been stretched. The custom of wearing neck rings is related to an ideal of beauty : an elongated neck. Neck rings push the clavicle and ribs down. The vertebrae do not elongate, though the space between them may increase as the intervertebral discs absorb liquid. The custom requires that the girls who wear the neck rings start before puberty , in order to get the body used to them. These heavy coils can weigh as much as 11 pounds 5 kg. Tourism is often considered to encourage the use of neck rings in Myanmar , as they are a popular attraction for tourists. Padaung Kayan Lahwi women of the Kayan people begin to wear neck coils from as young as age two. The length of the coil is gradually increased to as much as twenty turns.

The degree of immobilization caused by the rings around the neck, knees and arms mean that that the women excel in more static pursuits such as music and animal training, while the Kayan men bear some of the burdens of childcare and domestic duties.

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.

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. Neck rings are traditionally made from brass or copper and are meticulously coiled around the neck. Contrary to popular belief, these rings do not actually elongate the neck; rather, they push down the collarbone and compress the ribcage, resulting in an optical illusion of an elongated neck. This elongated appearance is highly valued within the Ndebele community, as it signifies grace and femininity. Wearing neck rings is a lifelong commitment for Ndebele women, and the number of rings worn indicates the social status and wealth of the individual. Generally, the number of rings increases with age, with married women wearing more rings than unmarried ones. The rings are often removed only during childbirth or medical emergencies.

African neck rings before and after

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.

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Close Your bag 0 items. Sample Block Quote Praesent vestibulum congue tellus at fringilla. Marco Polo first described the practice to Western culture in c. Well, as stated the neck isn't actually being stretched by these rings. As the girl grows older, the ornaments are progressively replaced by ones with more coils until marriage when a final tower of coils like the one shown here is worn. Sed vitae mi a mi pretium aliquet ac sed elitos. These heavy coils can weigh as much as 11 pounds 5 kg. 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. As far as when it starts in life, the younger the better. Traditionally, the rings are expensive and not every family can afford it. The alternative, an accelerated process at around the age of twelve, when girls first begin to compete for the attention of boys, is painful.

Neck rings are any form of stiff necklaces worn around the neck of an individual. The neck rings are usually made of copper or brass.

Your product's name. Praesent vestibulum congue tellus at fringilla. Close Customer Login:. The Kayan women have, and remain, exploited for their unusual bodily modification. The cultural practice does have its drawbacks. In the early 20th century, the English circus promoter Bertram Mills toured Europe with Kayan women among his exhibited 'freaks'. Obviously such a drastic change in appearance can lead to some semi-dramatic lifestyle changes. Shipping Taxes and shipping fee will be calculated at checkout. One is that they distinguished the Kayan women from those of neighbouring tribes so they could be ransomed back from captivity in times of inter-tribal warfare. Neck rings are usually made from brass or gold alloys. LookBook Gallery. 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. Close Your bag 0 items.