Laotian Ceremonial Cloth

This ceremonial cloth was made in Laos in the early 20th century out of cotton and glass beads.

Two things distinguish this cloth as a textile of great spiritual power. First, the warp yarn is continuous thus bestowing magical protective properties on its wearer. Second, the white beads are not sewn on the shawl after it is woven but stringed on the yarns while they are on the loom. Both attributes make the weaving of this deceptively simple striped shawl very complicated.