A Bolt of Rustic Hemp Cloth: Miao People

contemporary
18' 28" x 13 1/4", 6.2 m x 33.5 cm

This is a length of rustically hand woven, undyed, hemp cloth from the Miao people of southern China. The Miao people are extremely well-known for the beauty and ornament of their culture, from elaborate silver headdresses, mammoth cloth head coverings and, probably most especially, for their remarkably beautiful indigo dyed cloth.

Although undyed, this length of hemp feels beautiful in the hand: a glossy, semi-rough texture, it is drapey and heavy, and its fibers are a naturally beautiful shade of medium brown.

The cloth is hand finished on its two short ends.  On one end is hand written "6.5" which is still visible and somehow adds charm to this length.  On one of the ends there is a spray of very faint, bean-sized stains (not terribly noticeable) and along the length there are some creases from having been stored in rolled fashion.  Likely these can be ironed out, although a vestige may be branded into the cloth's fibers.

A lovely, long piece of heavy, hand woven hemp cloth from a beautiful ethnic group within China.