L700mm, Thailand
This smart garment belongs to the Striped Hmong tribe (Hmoob Txaij) of Thailand, they are one of the 5 hill tribes in the area between Northern Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Amongst the Hmong tribes, there are 4 sub tribe – White Hmong, Green Hmong, Striped Hmong and Hmong Chinese. The Striped Hmong’s costume have striped bands on the arms.
Textile Width 380mm, China
This fabric is woven by the Pu Ji tribe, a minority tribe in Gui Zhou. Weaving is a technique passed down the generation of women, all fabric for the household would have been weaved by the family. Traditionally, the young girls will be helping their mother and elder sisters and pick up the know how along the way, by the time they are a teenager they will be capable of making the cloth from scratch.
By from scratch, its from the cotton and indigo plant. Cotton are collected and made into yarns and rolled onto the simple spindle while the strings for the warp are set out according to the design and often with the use of the exterior of the building. Clothes are placed on the loom and the work begins.
DIA70xH70mm, China
This fine silver bracelet was one from the Miao tribe in China, the size of a cuff of a shirt, reminiscent of part of the armor. They are worn in pairs and would be up to 4 pairs at the same time. Different branches of the Miao tribe have their individual bracelet which all the women would be wearing.
DIA180mm, China
Today we have something more traditional, part of the Dong tribe consume, a triple ring silver neckwear. Together with the silver head wear, they are the most important part of their costume, passing down from generations. There are many style for the neck ring, we found this particular one to be very modern and bold.
L250xW70mm, China
This is a pair of embroidery shoes of the Miao tribe (for more about Miao tribe shoes, see our earlier post, Embroidery Shoes). Today I would like to concentrate on the cloth sole of the shoes which is entirely handmade. Before rubber and leather sole became popular in China, most of the soles are made with cloth, it is a common household practice, even mother remembers making shoes for herself in her childhood. Here is mom’s instruction:
The term brocade to the Chinese denotes mostly brocades woven by the minorities in Guang Xi province, the Miao tribe, Dong tribe (Gaeml) and Yao tribe in particular. The characteristic of these brocades are their vibrant colour combination and interesting geometric designs. To achieve these means that they have to have several shuttles for different colour yarns and a special designed jacquard hand loom.
During the Ming dynasty, these minority brocades were articles of royal appointment tribute. In the past, young girls by the age of 10 would have to start weaving a brocade of her own design and this would become her dowry for her wedding later on. Motifs of brocade mostly are cloud, water, fish, bird and floral. Brocades are used as quilt cover, wall hanging, cushion, head dress and belt etc.
Brocade Samples are shown at the Mountain Folkcraft shop in the Something New Something Old exhibition with Soil.
W65xL3200mm, China
Like the colourful band in the previous post, this black and white woven band is also a band of blessing. The Miao tribe reside on the hillside where they are constantly harassed by the snakes; once upon a time, a snake attacked a girl by wrapping its body on her, a young lad came to her rescue. The two soon fell in love, the girl woven a band for the young man as a sign of their love. One day as they were travelling together they came across another snake who was ready to attack, the lad used the band, wiggle it to imitate the snake and led the snake back into the woods. Since then, it was believed that the band would protect them from snake and all evils and the woven band became popular for the Miao.
Found this really nice video about the journey to the Miao tribe, just want to share! Enjoy!
W970xL970mm, China
This is one of our baby carrier turn cushion cover series
(x-stitch, patchwork, x-stitch).
Many years ago on one of the shopping trips to Gui Zhou, mother was on a bus when she saw this baby carrier. The baby carrier was not in a shop but carry a baby on the back of a woman. Falling in love with the unusual design mother jumped out of the bus and ran to find the woman with the baby. On closer look, the pattern looked even better, the colour are bright and the design abstract and modern. Mother begged the lady to sell the carrier to her so she can use it as a sample. The lady was very reluctant, as the baby carrier is believed to be an amulet for the child, protecting him throughout his life. After much persuasion here we are – a pattern of birds with flower!
W40xD50xH130mm, Macau
This is an old figurine worshiped by the fisherman on the junk boats of Hong Kong, it is one of the ancestral saints – Crane Riding Mother Saint, a figurine representing the female ancestors. It is believe that ancestors would protect the fisherman at sea. In Taoism, the Taoist saints be believe to travel around by riding a crane.
See our other entry of the Junk Boat Gods;
Tanka Wooden Effigy, Junk Boat God (god?), Junk Boat God
Mountain Folkcraft 