|
Folks- I couldn't resist weighing in on this one as my 'gut' feeling was that it is definitely not Thailand or Laos, but perhaps China, Tibeto-Burman, or even perhaps far eastern Central Asian, based primarily on the naga motif, the unusual braided strap, the materials (the absence of wool does steer one away from more northern areas), and the other rather unusual design motifs. In perusing my reference books I came across something similar, sans naga, in Dr. Howard's Textiles of the Hilltribes of Burma; p.163, #120. It has the same kind of plaited shoulder strap and decorated upper portion, followed by a lower portion of banding. Perhaps the weaver was not as interested in decorating as making something to use, so the lower half is without a motif, tho it appears to not be plain-woven either. The size is 26cm x 32cm. It would be interesting to know the size of Bill's bag. Also, about the dyes and which are chemical vs natural: I have seen some brilliant pinks that are natural and must question the possible chemical dye attribution. This is a lovely old bag and perhaps could also elicit a discussion of certain design motifs which if not quite universal, seem to be fairly ubiquitous, as is the naga/naak; as well as the panel divided into quarters (which is seen in Laos) and Central Asia, and probably lots of other cultures. Any thoughts?
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
