Miao Baby Carrier with Floral Motifs

A black and blue floral panel with orange peonies and a pair of ties dangling below.

This baby carrier with floral motifs is Miao (Hmong), from Liping, Guizhou Province, China, and dates to the 20th century. It is applique cotton, silk & metal. The butterfly is an image important to the Miao creation myth, in which a butterfly born from a maple tree laid twelve eggs that hatched the creatures of the world, including people. A large central blossom in coral and cream sits on a cobalt ground, ringed by smaller flowers. A lower dark section repeats the flowers, and the bottom narrows into crossed straps with loose cords. It is 165 inches wide and 33 long.

Floral confidence from top to tassel.