Vintage Black Tay Blanket from Vietnam

Although the majority of the population of modern Vietnam is ethnic Vietnamese there are many tribes of other ethnicities, each with its own language and culture, completely separate from the Vietnamese cultural majority. One of those ethnic minorities, as they are called in Vietnam is the Tay. A subgroup of the Tay are the “Black Tay”, residing in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. Their signature handwoven blanket, is used for warmth during the rainy season, the winter, of Vietnam, where temperatures can get well below freezing. Their textiles are most commonly recognized by their diamond shaped patterns. With a stunning central woven panel of natural black and white cotton, consisting of two bands each roughly 13″ wide. Many blankets in their full form will have a border around the central panel to increase its size. Sometimes the border may be removed before selling, or replaced with a newer border when the previous one gets old. The approximate age is over 40 years, which is sometimes quite evident by patches of fading color or repairs of different colored threads5 This blanket measures 63″ x 44″ (160cm x 112cm). Interior dimensions measure 47″ x 33″ (119cm x 84cm)