Miao Baby Carrier with Human and Butterfly Motifs

A black embroidered cloth crowded with tiny white figures in rows, trimmed in purple.

This baby carrier with human and butterfly motifs is Miao (Hmong), from Guizhou Province, China, and dates to the 20th century. It is applique cotton & silk. 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. Rows of small stitched motifs in cream, red and green fill the dark central panel. A wide border of purple and blue stripes with tiny colored squares follows the arms and hem. It is 41 inches wide and 32 long.

A small crowd, stitched in single file.