Object Record
Images
Metadata
Artist |
Vang, Houa |
Nationality or Tribal Affiliation |
Hmong, Blue/Green Hmong |
Title |
Funeral Cloth |
Type of Object |
Needlework |
Date |
1991 |
Medium |
Cotton/Thread |
Dimensions |
H-53.4 W-48.8 cm |
Collection |
Missoula Art Museum Collection |
How acquired |
Gift of Susan Lindbergh Miller in honor of Montana's Hmong Community |
Object ID |
2011.10.69 |
Statement about this object |
This panel features four buffalo horn designs in the red strips of fabric appliqued in the tuck and fold technique, which the Hmong call "chev." According to Bounthavy (Vee) Kiatoukaysy, this is a funeral collar for a man in a style attributed to the Blue Hmong, also known as Green Hmong. The yellow and red colors are traditional Blue Hmong colors. Gifts of funerary collars, or squares, called dab ncoos (pronounced dao dung), depict activities and aid to the souls. They are also referred to as 'old person's clothing' or 'old people's designs,' as Hmong do not traditionally allude directly to death. Funeral collars are usually sewn by daughters or daughters-in-law for elderly parents or relatives well ahead of the time of passing, and stored in a special place. The cloth is placed under the head before burial. Traditionally, women used horizontal collars with black top borders and men used square flower cloths, but more recently women, too, have begun using the flower cloths. |
Subjects |
Patterns (Design elements) Symbols Buffalo horn Death & burial |