Title
Blouse
Year/Period
Mid 20th century, c.1960s
Region
Northern Thailand
Dimension
Object size: 73 x 70 cm
Accession No.
1993-01029
Collection of
Sgaw Karen women usually wear indigo or black homespun cotton blouses, which are plain at the top and diamond-shaped patterns in the lower half, embellished with Job's-tear seeds (a hardy tropical white grass). Girls learn to make their own dresses at the age of ten. A Karen bride changes from her dress into a blouse and skirt during her marriage to signify her new status.The Karen is the largest tribal group in Thailand comprising two main divisions (the Sgaw and Pwo) and smaller sub-groups. Originally thought to have come from Tibet, they migrated into Thailand from Burma during the 18th century.
