African neck rings before and after

Purchased from Stevens Auction Rooms in ; From the age of about five, a girl is fitted with a small african neck rings before and after 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.

Neck rings are an interesting fashion choice. Many cultures have a different standard of beauty, and while I can't quite identify why somebody would make the choice to wear neck rings I certainly respect their choice to do so. Neck rings are used to give the appearance of an elongated neck in many countries throughout Africa and Asia. I say 'give the appearance' because these neck rings don't actually stretch the neck. We will get into what is actually happening, as well as taking a look at the cultural significance of this fascinating practice. I've seen this in action for myself on a trip to Thailand and neck stretching can't truly be appreciated until you actually lay eyes on it for yourself. Well, as stated the neck isn't actually being stretched by these rings.

African neck rings before and after

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. Nowadays, they are worn to preserve cultural tradition. Girls begin to wear rings around their shins and necks at the age of five or six, but it largely depends on the wealth of the family. Traditionally, the rings are expensive and not every family can afford it. Today, most younger women in the villages of Kayah state choose not to wear the rings, saying it as an antiquated practice. Across the border in northern Thailand, however, the neck rings have recently surged in popularity, attracting curious tourists and revenue for villagers.

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 , 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.

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. While the practice of wearing neck rings is rooted in tradition, it is essential to approach this custom with cultural sensitivity.

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.

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Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. These are augmented by smaller sets of rings on the arms and legs as well as heavy ear earrings. The collapse of these critical neck muscles can lead to the collapse of the neck and everything within it, leading to suffocation. 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. Neck rings are still worn permanently by members of many cultures, and it has been somewhat adopted by even Western countries. Jewellery worn around the neck. Others claim the practice protected the women from tigers, animals that are known to seize their prey by the scruff of the neck. Purchased from Stevens Auction Rooms in ; Anthropologists have definitively traces the practice back to the 11th century, but the truth is that is seems to go even further back than that. The neck isn't actually stretched, which is good because that could cause paralysis.

African neck rings are a form of body modification that has been practiced for centuries by various tribes and cultures in Africa.

Although the wearing of neck-rings had been on the wane, with only a few hundred women retaining them, the Thai government ensured the survival of the custom by promoting the women as a lucrative tourist spectacle. Many cultures and periods have made neck rings, with both males and females wearing them at various times. What Are They Made From? How Does It Work? Lifestyle Changes Needed Obviously such a drastic change in appearance can lead to some semi-dramatic lifestyle changes. The neck rings are often treated with anti-chafing ointment or cloth to keep the skin from damage. Sample Block Quote Praesent vestibulum congue tellus at fringilla. Whatever the origins, the neck rings are a potent symbol or power and female beauty in a matriarchal society. Cras suscipit quam et turpis eleifend vitae malesuada magna congue. Compare Remove All. 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. The vertebrae do not elongate, though the space between them may increase as the intervertebral discs absorb liquid. The neck rings slowly push these bones downwards by around 45 degrees.