Miao Textiles from China

The richly woven and embroidered textiles explored in this book belong to the Miao minority group of Guizhou province in South-West China. The Miao's elaborate festival costumes are not only their most important possessions, but can be consideredthe major living visual art form of their culture. Over 20 such textiles from the British Museum's collection are examined and illustrated here in detail and will undoubtedly provide designers at all levels with inspiration for new and unexpectedways for using colour and pattern in their own work. The author provides the background information to bring the pieces to life, looking at the origins of the Miao, their distinctive textiles and costumes, when and how they are worn, the materialsand dyes used, the principal weaving techniques employed, and the decorative techniques, patterning and stitches that distinguish one group from another.