This skirt has fine horizontal bands of decoration interspersed between wide stripes comprising interlocking dragon-like motifs. The widest band near the lower hem includes several layers of dragons and what are probably ancestor figures.This skirt was probably made for a Tai Daeng female shaman. The inclusion of auspicious motifs such as dragon or naga water spirits and ancestor figures suggest the skirt was worn for rituals. The Tai Daeng (Red Tai) are one of many Tai groups which migrated out of southern China into northern areas of mainland Southeast Asia during the 12th century. The rich textile-weaving legacy remains today, although designs and markets for such textiles are changing with globalisation.
