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Thought I would share this delightful Miao baby carrier I recently purchased. The crazy cool cat really got its claws into me and I just couldn't resist! I love his spotted coat and wild tail - both bearing signs of a life well lived and on the prowl.
Each applique piece, with flowers and butterflies embroidered either freehand or over paper templates, is bordered with exquisite braid placed between couched twisted gold foil. The applique ground uses a variety of different silks and silk brocades placed onto black velvet to form a pomegranate. The red silk border embroidered with flowers and occasional butterfly extends onto the ties which terminate in purple silk - echoed on the 'ruyi' applique at the base of the carrier.
I have several carriers like this said to be from Leishan County (see Beishan pp 250-251 for similar carrier layout). However, this style of carrier also appears in neighbouring Taijiang (see baby carriers pp 84-85, p. 35 for full carrier) so this carrier remains in the "broad locality Leishan/Taijiang" file.
Cats do appear on a number of Shidong textiles but seem to be uncommon elsewhere. Amongst Han Chinese, cats are not favorably imbued with any particular virtue although the idea that cats can ward off evil spirits is held by some. Is there any hearsay information on cats known from the Miao? The pomegranate is usually taken to indicate the desire for numerous virtuous and filial offspring.... meeeow!