Antique Ceremonial Beaded Apron Textile from South Africa

A Proto-Nazca textile fragment from Southern Peru circa 100BC-200AD. The linked munecas ("dolls" in Spanish) figures were woven with fibers likely from l...

An oversized and impressive cape worn during ceremonial dancing by Miao people (also known as Hmong in English) from Guizhou Province, China circa 1940s-1950s in a rarely intact and well-preserved condition. Miao people are diverse minority groups living in Southern China as well as Southeast Asia with complex sub-affiliations based on attires, languages, cultural customs and art tradition. They are renowned for their textile and silver craftsmanship as well as singing and dancing traditions. This cape, rather heavy in construction and striking in bold red and black, was made from wool, hemp and cotton. The surface showcases elongated diamond patterns in complementary woven wool and couched plaque on top of the cotton part. The pattern strikes the viewer with a strong sense of dignity and power. The heavy material and pattern are strangely akin to some of the Navajo weaving. The cape is in a form a jacket with long and wide sleeves, and it was meant to be used in ceremonial occasions. Our research reveals that the piece was from the Northwest Guizhou in an autonomous county called Weining. The area is of subtropical highland and the generally cold weather was reflected in the heavy materials used in this piece, in comparison with other textiles made in the warmer lowland. There is an older paper label with price tag in Chinese inside the cape. It was purchased in Guizhou decades ago by a US collection in MA. With a span of over 94 inches long, it makes a very impressive textile art piece for wall hanging. Not framed and easily shipping folded up. For a similar jacket from Weining, see "Miao Textile...

A large and striking woven Ikat from Sumba, Indonesia, circa early 20th century or earlier. This ceremonial cotton Hinggi with fringes is made from two panels joined together, which ...

Two Oceanic ceremonial weapons from PNG highlands circa 20th century. It consists of two pieces. The first is an ax with a wood shaft and a flat elongated he...

An antique pre-Columbia textile fragment likely from Peru Chancay culture in Central coast that thrived in the late Intermediate period/ late Horizon, A.D. 1200-1550. Abstract geomet...

An antique pre-Columbia textile panel from Chancay culture in Central coast of nowadays Peru. Chancay culture thrived in the late Intermediate period/ late Horizon circa AD. 1000-1470. The panel appears to be an intact shawl or head scarf, indicated by the overall integrity with the finished edges. It is a gauze-like linen/cotton open-square woven panel with supplemental embroidered horizontal bands that alternate between hooked diamond motifs and silhouettes of perched seabirds, one of the most favored animal forms in Chancay art. The color is quite vibrant with red contrasted by two shades of yellow on a darker brown background. The scarf such as this is thought to be associated with ceremonies and magic realm of death and burial practice. The textile is displayed on a dark line background under a newly made acrylic shadow box. Reference: For reading on the bird motifs in Chancay textile art, see page 141-183 of the book "Ancient...

A very finely woven wool veil used as a head cover in the wedding ceremony among the Ida Ou Zeddout Berber people of the Moroccan Anti Atlas region. The red tonality is obtained with...

Pua Kumbu Iban people, Sarawak Late 19th to early 20th century 35 x 74.5 inches ( 89 x 189.5 cm) Natural dyes with handspun cotton and commercial thread ...

Early 20th century ceremonial cloth / Tampan, Paminggir, Lampung region, South Sumatra, Indonesia Commonly referred to as ship cloths, these ceremonial tampan would have been used as gifts, wrappers, cushions or pillows in any number of life-transition ceremonies, including children’s first hair cutting...

Vintage African Kuba textile, suitable for a modern wall panel, on a long table or to make pillows. Handwoven and hand-dyed raffia fabric - An IDEA: ...

Handsome set of four Ndebele Mapoto beaded aprons from South Africa. They are canvas backed and in awesome condition. We have not detected any loose beads...

Congolese Textile Tetela DR Congo 19th century Measures: 68 x 41 inches (172 x 104 cm) Provenance: Ambre-Congo gallery, Brussels $5,000. A very rare ...