穗SUI- Knitting silver rings with fish and bloom shaped hangings

穗SUI is the collection of our rings with hanging decorations. This open-ended silver ring is completely handmade by the artisan Shuigen WU from Shidong, Guizhou. The pattern on main body are butterflies and flower. The Miao believe they are descended from the Butterfly Mother, who laid 12 eggs​, one of which hatched and became the Miao people. The hanging decoration are fish and bloom. The fish symbolizes the pray for children and beloved ones.

Technique: Knitting skill is used to create this piece. It is one of the most skillful and patient work in the silversmithing process. Artisans need to twist two silver wires which are thinner than human hair and knit with the strand in the frame before welding. Through knitting, various linear decorations are presented, which are exquisite and exquisite. Miao silvermaking has been threatened to disappear and was inscribed in National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Material: Fine silver and sterling silver- 8g.

*Fine silver has a millesimal fineness of 999. Also called pure silver, it is less and less used in jewellery making due to its soft feature that increases the difficulty in the making process. However, to respect the tradition in the region, artisans insist to use fine silver to create high-qualified pieces with exquisite technique. 

Size: Main Body:3.2cm*1.5cm    Hangings: 2cm *Adjustable in size

Artisan: Shuigen Wu is from Longtang village of Shidong where silver jewellery has a long and abundant history. He is considered among the top silversmiths in the Miao region and honored as national inheritor of Miao silver forging skills (only four people in China) due to his marvelous handcrafts. Shuigen was even received by President Xi.