2009.135.52

Collection type

Object

Description

Embroidered baby carrier. [FB 22/05/2012]

Long description

Embroidered baby carrier. The baby carrier is 'T' shaped and made from cotton. The cotton has been dyed a metallic green colour. The baby carrier is decorated on the outer edge with black cotton embroidered with dotted patterns in satin stitch in purple, blue and red. The central panel of design is a woven pattern in red, white, orange, pink and green silk threads. This is backed with black cotton textile. Surrounding the central panel of decoration are woven ribbons in red, green, blue and white. [FB 22/05/2012]

Geographical reference

China

Asia > Eastern Asia > China

South East Guizhou Province Tiantang (Taijiang)

Cultural groups

Hmong

Person

Field collector Deryn O'Connor

PRM source Deryn O'Connor

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1992

Date collected

1992

Acquisition information

Donated: 2006

Materials and processes

Material Cotton Seed Fibre Yarn Plant, Material Pigment, Material Cotton Seed Fibre Textile Plant, Material Silk Yarn Animal, Process Woven, Process Dyed, Process Stitched, Process Embroidered

Dimensions

Width: max 740 mm, Length 5380 mm approx

Object numbers

Accession number: 2009.135.52 Other numbers: 22

Research and responses

Miao Costumes from Guizhou Province South West China by Deryn O' Connor. Catalogue of an exhibition at James Hockney Gallery, WSCAD, Farnham [FB 22/05/2012]

Baby carriers are important functional, decorative and symbolic objects. Mothers carry babies on their backs crucial in a society where people walk everywhere. The basic shape is a rectangle of lined cloth with tying bands at the top corners. Each group makes baby carriers in their own particular style and technique, usually related to their clothes. The bands must be sturdy, flexible and easy to tie. The outside of the carrier is decorated by embroidery, a decorative weave or wax resist, or a combination. They are always treated as a unit with borders on three, or four sides. Sometimes the rectangle is padded to make it more solid or stiffened. Some have top covers, some underlayers. [FB 23/05/2012]

Associated publications

Miao Costumes from Guizhou Province South West China by Deryn O' Connor. Catalogue of an exhibition at James Hockney Gallery, WSCAD, Farnham. [FB 08/05/2012]

Search terms: Clothing Textile, Children and Childcare, Transport and Travel, Textile, Baby-carrier, Carrying Device