Miao Textiles and other Chinese Minority Costumes from Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces

Chinese Minority Textiles: Miao and Others - 1
from the collection of Marla Mallett	HOME

The ethnic minorities of China have produced fanciful, colorful costumes with distinctive flavors. They display superlative embroidery, brocading and batik. Objects by Miao, Gejia, Shui, Dong, Yao, Buyi, Yi, Zhuang and Li groups from the southwestern provinces of Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangxi and Hainan are currently featured on these pages. Most costume items or accessories are decorated with flowers, birds and animals from the surrounding landscape -- anthropomorphic and zoomorphic images that are often abstracted. Traditional auspicious designs appear, even among patterns that are completely geometric. Some parts of these minority groups, particularly the Miao, migrated southward into Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, where they are known as H'mong. Yao groups are also numerous on both sides of the border and produce similar textiles in both areas.

Most of the pieces on these pages are between 40 and 100 years of age. A few are more recent. Ages are difficult to assess with certainty; my notes include only educated guesses. With this charming textile folk art, the important qualities are superb craftsmanship, excellent materials and color, good condition, and inspired expression.

Click on the inventory numbers below to see full views of the textiles and large detail scans. Go to A Few Snapshots for photos of the artisans and their costumes. For some notes on Miao festivals, customs, and the symbolism in their textile art, go to Notes on Miao Folklore. For Han textiles go to our Chinese Textiles page or to Chinese Costumes. Pieces by related ethnic groups appear on our Japanese Textiles or Tribal Textiles of Southeast Asia pages. Check out our HOME page for textiles from other parts of the world.

Miao Jacket with Embroidery
Taijiang, Guizhou. China
48½"x 36"
Silk embroidery on silk; cotton
twill-weave jacket; folded silk appliqué
E-5009

Miao Baby Carrier
Guangxi, China
29½"x 45½"plus ties
Silk embroidery and metal
ornaments on cotton
E-7031

Miao Baby Carrier
Huishui. Guizhou, China
29"x 25"
Silk embroidery and appliqué on
cotton
E-5012

Dong Baby Carrier
Rongjian, Guizhou. China
13"x 32½"plus straps
Silk embroidery and braids on
cotton
E-4468

Rao Jia Baby Carrier
Guizhou, China
27½"x 29"
Silk embroidery on cotton
E-5944

Buyi DuDoo
Yunnan, China
25½"x 22"
Silk embroidery, velvet and silk
braid appliqué, and metal ornaments
on cotton
E-4822

Li Skirt
Hainan, China
24½"x 43"
Cotton ikat with warp-patterned
bands
W-6264

Embroidered Miao Baby Carrier
Guangxi, China
20"x 29½"
Silk embroidery on cotton, with
appliqué
E-4475

Miao Jacket
Guizhou, China
52"x 23"
Silk embroidery and batik on
cotton
E-4499

Dong Child's Hat
Guizhou, China
7"x 5"
Silk embroidery on cotton velvet
E-924

Dan Zhai - Bai Ling Baby Carrier
Guizhou, China.
67½"x 38."
Silk embroidery on cotton, with
appliqué
E-3135

Miao Baby Carrier
Shuicheng, Guizhou. China
34"x 25"plus ties
Silk embroidery, reverse applique,
padded tassel and beads
E-7878

Child's Animal Hat
China
5"x 7½"
Silk embroidery and appliqué
on silk
E-4908

Miao Apron
Jianhe area. Guizhou, China
7½"x 18"
Silk and silver embroidery on
cotton
E-4737

Li Skirt
Hainan, China
29"x 34"
Cotton, with silk and cotton embroidery;
brocading and warp patterning
W-6265

Yao Wedding Head Cover
Guangxi, China
28"x 19"
Silk embroidery on cotton
B-4732

Zhi Jin Miao Baby Carrier
Guizhou, China
21"x 25½"
Silk embroidery, padded tassel,
beads, and bells
E-4474

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Chinese Minority Textiles: Miao and Others - 1

from the collection of Marla Mallett

Chinese Minority Textiles - 2