Miao-style Oxhorn-shaped Hair Ornament

This oxhorn ornament was crafted based on the combination of chasing and filigree-inlaying. The main pattern on this item is two dragons playing with a ball, set off by the subordinate patterns of fish, scorpions, oxen, flowers clouds, etc. Both the dragons and the ball in the main pattern were welded onto the main body after being finished separately.
On the two horn tips there are motifs signifying the sun and the moon. Four silver strips erect in parallel between the two horns but higher than the latter, with fringe-biting butterflies attached to each of their tips. Vivid motifs and phoenix and centipedes can also be found on these silver plates.
The oxhorn-shaped silver hair ornaments in the southeast of China’s southwestern Guizhou province fall into three categories based on different geographic locations, namely, Xijiang-style, Shidong-style and Paidiao-style. The Shidong-style, which this piece in question belongs to, is known as the most intricate and gorgeous.