Textile
ClassificationsTextiles-components-borders or trim
Culture
Miao
Datemid to late 20th Century
Made AtGuizhou Province, China, Asia
MediumCotton and silk
Dimensions9 1/4 × 181 in. (23.5 × 459.7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Long Shung and Anne Shih
Object number2016.13.42
DescriptionIt appears that this object has printed/manufactured fabrics sewn in with more traditional materials. To be more specific, the Miao used more organic dyes and handwoven designs in the past, but since mid-century 20th century, as factory-made textiles were readily available and less costly, they were incorporated with these fabrics. Miao girls learn to make textiles as early as six years old. By the time a girl reaches the marriageable age of sixteen she will possess the skills to make clothing and textiles needed for herself and her family throughout life. With guidance from older sisters, mothers and grandmothers, numerous complex embellishing embroidery and dyeing techniques are learned as are the foundations for producing textiles. These basics include picking and preparing cottons, raising silk worms and extracting their silk, producing yarns, dyeing fabrics and various special treatments to create textured, shiny and stiffened fabrics. As they have become available, many Miao have adopted the use of commercial fabrics, silks, dyes, plastic sequins and other embellishments, using them in combination with traditional techniques.On View
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