Bouyei (Buyi) "wedding blankets" from Guizhou and Guangxi provinces, and other Bouyei textiles
The Bouyei are a group related to the Dai/Tai peoples of southeast Asia, who live today mainly in Guizhou and Guangxi provinces. They make outstanding supplementary weft blankets (sometimes called "wedding blankets") with silk patterning on a cotton foundation.
The blankets selected here are heirloom examples, dating from the late 19th century to the early part of the 20th century, selected for age and condition.
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CET326 A very good example of the "water well" design. Silk supplementary weft on cotton foundation. Indigo cotton surround. First half of the 20th century. 69cm x 101cm excluding border. |
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| detail of CET326 |  |
CET229 A very old 19th century Bouyei blanket with diamonds design, silk supplementary weft patterning on a cotton foundation. Soft natural dyed colors. Original border. 92x131cm including border. |
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detail of CET229 showing the design: the surface of this blanket is entirely made of silk supplementary weft patterning, the cotton ground being invisible from this side. |
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CET221 Old Bouyei blanket with "water well" design. First half of the 20th century. Original borders. 96cm x 129cm including borders. |
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| (detail of CET221) |  |
CET210 Superb Bouyei blanket from the early part of the 20th century, dyed with natural indigo and tin-mordanted lac. Original borders. 114cm x 162cm including border. |
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