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

Chinese Minority Textiles: Miao and Others - 1
from MARLA MALLETT: TEXTILES	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 Baby Carrier
Guizhou, China
24"x 28"
Silk embroidery on cotton
E-7814

Bai Wedding Collar or Cape
Yunnan, China
51"x 48"
Silk embroidery on silk; tassels
and metal ornaments
E-6678

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

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

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

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

Dong Head Scarf
Guizhou, China
14"x 27½"
Cross-stitch embroidery on
cotton
E-4718

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

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

Belt Purse with Five Pouches
Yunnan, China
3½"x 31"
Silk embroidery and gold foil
on silk satin
E-6305

Shui Baby Carrier
Guizhou, China
23"x 41"plus embroidered straps
Horsetail embroidery on cotton
E-4476

Miao Baby Carrier Panel
Khali, Guizhou. China
8½"x 37½"
Silk Brocading
W-6641

Miao Hat
Guizhou, China
7½"x 11"
Silk embroidery on cotton
E-5942

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

Yao Apron
Southwest China
17"x 23"
Cotton, with silk embroidery and
beaded tassels
E-6263

Embroidered Miao Baby Carrier
Guiyang. Guizhou, China
23"x 26"
Silk satin-stitch and couching on
cotton
E-1119

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

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Chinese Minority Textiles: Miao and Others - 1

from MARLA MALLETT: TEXTILES

Chinese Minority Textiles - 2