Naturally Dyed Silk Shoulder Cloth or Shawl – Laos

Description

This traditional shoulder cloth is woven in Houaphan Province, Laos, from village-raised, hand-reeled, naturally dyed, handwoven silk.  Donated by Above the Fray: Traditional Hill Tribe Art, it is filled with creatures and motifs representing a spiritual river serpent (a female spirit that lives in the river which irrigates the rice fields, thus a bringer of life), the gourd seed (from which people grew), rainbow stripes that represent the hong bird whose belly is the rainbow, and a myriad of flowers.  The color pattern represents two women’s sections on the ends of the shawl and a plainer colored man’s section in the middle.  All natural dyes including lac, annatto, duobanga grandiflora (kor ben which makes the rich gold), fresh indigo, sappan wood, and black and light blue from overdying the Duobanga Grandiflora with dirt from the burned rice fields. This stunning textile could be worn,or hung on the wall for display. It measures 11.5″ wide x 94″ long.

About Above the Fray: Traditional Hill Tribe Art:

Above the Fray: Traditional Hill Tribe Art represents the finest traditional artists who live in hill tribe Laos and Vietnam. Their hand-woven silks, cotton and hemp textiles, basketry, jewelry and other arts are as meaningful in these artists’ lives today as they have been for generations.

Founded by WARP board member Maren Beck and WARP member Josh Hirschstein, Above the Fray shares the traditions and cultures of hill tribe Laos and Vietnam with a broad audience. They are particularly smitten with the character, beauty, resourcefulness and art of the people in the remote Annamite Mountains of northern Laos and Vietnam. In these regions are dozens of unique tribal cultures, each with its own beliefs, traditions, languages, and forms of artistic expression. Exploring these regions, engaging with the people, and understanding and sharing their beautiful and profound art has become their passion.

Learn more at:

http://hilltribeart.com