Miao One Hundred Bird Festival Coat
JM -21 One Hundred Bird
Yahui Town , Danzhai County, Guizhou Province, SW China
or possibly Pinyong Area, Rongjiang County, Guizhou Province. SW China
2nd Half of 20th Century
This dramatic silk embroidered coat is a man's festival jacket of the Miao ethnic group living in Rongjiang and Danzhai Counties of SE Guizhou Province. Individual pieces of silk and silk-like material are embroidered with silk satin stitching over paper cuts and attached to the base jacket of indigo cotton. Major motifs are the butterfly, the originator of the Miao people and all living creatures; the silk worm dragon, one of the eight dragons from Miao culture, and the centipede which was from the same important clan as the original ancestors and Lei Gong or God Thunder. Bordering pieces are elaborate and include edging with batik material, triangle cut outs of hand woven shiny cloth, and on the front bottom a black and white geometric pattern seen on similar garments over 100 years old. Chicken feathers attached to pink diamonds hand from seed strong tassels.
53" with sleeves; 35" long with tassels; 24" under arms
Excellent condition
$950
Butterfly and silk worm dragon motifs