"In thirty years of travel and passionate research, Rene van der Star has collected and catalogued with philological rigor an exceptional collection of silver jewellery from the most remote villages of China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Tibet." "The pieces in the Van der Star collection, which are presented in this volume with a selection of extraordinary ethnic fabrics, are unique for their beautiful shapes and exquisite craftsmanship. The focus on the ethnographic context in which these objects were produced gives this collection special documentary value, brought to light by the essays of the authors who contributed to this publication."--BOOK JACKET