Couple from Kokonor

Nomadic herdsmen, in the Lake Kokonor area of northeastern Tibet, typically wore long, heavy loose-fitting robes (chubas), sometimes trimmed in snow leopard skin. In mild weather, the herdsmen bared their arms and upper body and tied the sleeves around their waist.  In harsh weather, they used the fleece-lined chubas as sleeping bags. They also pulled the wide brims of their stylish fox fur hats down to their shoulders for additional warmth.

The women’s headdress, common among the regional nomadic tribes, had two sections, each adorned with embossed silver bowls of assorted sizes. The smaller section was their dowry, worn over 108 thinly woven braids—an auspicious number in Buddhism, representing the 108 sacred qualities of an enlightened mind. The larger section, a gift from their husband, is extended down her back. When the husband died, or if the couple separated, the woman would return the larger section to his family.