Hmong baby carrier
A Chinese Miao indigo and embroidered baby carrier, Early 20th century.
Despite their almost machine like uniformity and symmetry, all of the work is done by hand and required immense concentration to carry out. The skill involved in the creation is even more impressive by the fact that designs are often not planned out in advance and that they tend to be done by girls and young women- not master embroiderers with a lifetime of experience. A woman’s ability to create a such fine embroidery was seen as valuable to the community and especially to husbands and in-laws.
Baby carriers in Maiao communities were also often made by the new mothers family and presented to her and her husband after the baby was born. They were often used as part of a women’s dowry.
50x67cm
A Chinese Miao indigo and embroidered baby carrier, Early 20th century.
Despite their almost machine like uniformity and symmetry, all of the work is done by hand and required immense concentration to carry out. The skill involved in the creation is even more impressive by the fact that designs are often not planned out in advance and that they tend to be done by girls and young women- not master embroiderers with a lifetime of experience. A woman’s ability to create a such fine embroidery was seen as valuable to the community and especially to husbands and in-laws.
Baby carriers in Maiao communities were also often made by the new mothers family and presented to her and her husband after the baby was born. They were often used as part of a women’s dowry.
50x67cm
A Chinese Miao indigo and embroidered baby carrier, Early 20th century.
Despite their almost machine like uniformity and symmetry, all of the work is done by hand and required immense concentration to carry out. The skill involved in the creation is even more impressive by the fact that designs are often not planned out in advance and that they tend to be done by girls and young women- not master embroiderers with a lifetime of experience. A woman’s ability to create a such fine embroidery was seen as valuable to the community and especially to husbands and in-laws.
Baby carriers in Maiao communities were also often made by the new mothers family and presented to her and her husband after the baby was born. They were often used as part of a women’s dowry.
50x67cm