Belt Buckle

Shaped like a small padlock, this pendant reflects a form known as a soul or spirit lock. For Hmong communities in Southeast Asia, such pendants were traditionally made in silver and worn on neck rings to protect the soul and keep it from wandering. They were often part of dowries, ritual dress, and family heirlooms. This example is gold-colored, with hammered details that give texture to its protective form. What might the lock-like shape suggest to you? 

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