Shawl
ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-scarves, shawls, & stoles
Cultureprobably
Miao
Date20th Century
Made AtChina, Asia
MediumCotton and silk
Dimensions24 1/4 × 55 in. (61.6 × 139.7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih
Object number2019.23.2
DescriptionMany of the tribal minority groups of China and surrounding regions of Asia are prominent textile makers. While this textile was probably made by the Miao, both the coloration and style seem to imply some Han influence. Miao girls learn to make textiles as early as six years old. 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 silkworms and extracting their silk, producing yarns, dyeing fabrics and various special treatments to create textured, shiny and stiffened fabrics. 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. The quality and skill of one’s weaving and decoration is often a consideration for choosing a potential wife.On View
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