Download - OATG. Oxford Asian Textile Group

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REVIEWS
research trip to southwest China with Gina Corrigan. Although the historical section features Han
embroidery most of the current work is that of the minorities – mainly Miao in Guizhou, where
there are still active braiders today.
The book is aimed at a variety of audiences: the aspiring braider, the embroiderer, the student
of Chinese textiles, the research and the collector. Often ‗how to‘ books fall between several
stools as they try to cover the breadth of the topic but not in sufficient depth for the varied audience.
As someone who is particularly interested in the techniques behind the textiles I collect and
research I found the volume illuminating.
I might have felt somewhat disappointed if my special interest was Chinese imperial costume
or more mainstream Han textiles although there are some Han examples in the first part of
the ‗Evolution and Change‘ section which is the main review of the historical background of braid
in China.
As it happens, I am especially interested in Chinese minority textiles which is the major
focus of the examples in the book as it is here that the braiding technique is still alive so for me the
book was particularly on target.
Pamela Cross
Book cover detail from an old Miao jacket sleeve panel covered in dense braid embroidery, giving it
a rich sculpted appearance. Different braid structures and patterns have been applied using various
methods. The main body of the dragon motif is built up from overlaid loops with a border of