I contacted Martin Conlan (Slow Lorris) and asked him about the headcloths on this thread. He very kindly gave me a quick response in between packing his car for for 3 days near Cambridge (Textiles In Focus, Cottenham) - sadly not near to me!
Quote:
Yes these are Dong head cloths found around the apex of the 3 provinces Guizhou, Hunan and Guangxi. Sometimes they have a few bright colours at either side (Shuikou). I've had numerous pieces over the years, but the better, older ones seem to be getting harder to find.
About 20 years ago I was staying with a Dong family in Baxie, Guangxi just over the border from Shuikou, Guizhou. After a weeks stay, upon departure, I was given a newly woven head cloth as a gift. I asked the mother who wove it, how many had she made that season (for gifts), to which she replied: 18, and that was just one of the many items she wove each year. When given as gifts they are seen as imparting something of the Dong culture.
Pieces like these can be woven a few at a time together, in the same pattern or not. I've bought them before joined and ready to cut.
I will forward some images of ones with coloured sides when I dig them out.
Some old Dong head cloth scans of pieces I had previously.
I am adding below the photos of the three images of old Dong headcloths which Martin included in his email.
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Pamela
http://www.tribaltextiles.infoon-line tribal textiles resource