Rare Dai Chin Ceremonial Textile, Southern Burma, Early to Mid 20th C. Ceremonial textile, a mithun cover, composed of several sections of warp faced tabby woven cotton cloth sewn with wrapped yarns along selvage edges. Striped patterning in grey, black and red. Several slits at one end for laying over the sacrificial mithun. A mithun is considered a sacred bovine to the Dai Chin. It is akin to gold because of its high value in the barter system and mithun sacrifice is a compulsory part of festivals and dispute settlements as a symbol of peace and communal harmony. Textiles such as this would have been placed over the animal during the ceremony then worn by those for whom the animal's sacrifice would bring prosperity and well-being. Size: 56'' x 39.5'', (142 x 100 cm). Provenance: Ex. Roger Hollander collection.

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