Ge Jia Baby Carrier with Butterfly and Flower Motifs

An indigo cloth printed in white with butterflies, a fan of leaves and tiny stars.

This baby carrier with butterfly and flower motifs is Ge Jia, from Guizhou Province, China, and dates to the 20th century. It is cotton. Miao is a general term for several ethnic groups of southwest China, including the Hmong, Shui, Yi and Ge Jia, who are famous for their costumes and especially their baby carriers. The deep blue panel is split in two. At the top, a large white butterfly pair flanks a leafy fan against a starry ground. Below, a framed flower sits in a field of fine feathery lines. It is 18 inches wide and 20 long.

Wax resist and nerve, in equal measure.