Miao Baby Carrier with "Birds & Bees" Motif

A black patterned cloth lined with rows of tiny round coins and a pink-purple border.

This baby carrier with “birds & bees” motif is Miao (Hmong), from Guizhou Province, China, and dates to the 20th century. It is applique cotton & silk. Making a carrier involved every step from raising silkworms and producing silk to dyeing, embroidering, brocading and appliqué, and the work reflected a girl's love, devotion and creativity. Small red and white stitched motifs fill the dark center. A broad frame of round discs and stripes in lavender, pink and cream surrounds the arms and lower edge. It is 60 inches wide and 29 long.

The border does a lot of showing off.