Artsve

Date of Photo: January 17, 2001

Description: Lao traditional textiles are made by several methods. One sees great differences in the textile quality and the diverse decorations on clothing. The loom pictured here is a slight variation of the traditional Lao loom called Muei after the Tai Muei who are very closely related to the Tai Thaeng. The Lao loom that continues to be most used throughout the country is a loom built of 112 wood pieces. Four columns are reinforced by 4 cross beams and 5 tie-beams(3 in front, 2 in back next to the weaver). This rests upon a plank, which incorporated with this structure forms a bench. Two ailerons are used to suspend the smoothing harnesses and another, the comb. The chain which passes over the ailerons to be taken again by a tie-beam is divided by pattern sticks (here they are pieces of bamboo) that allow this movement while the shuttle guides the wire of the screen. It is pressed by two wooden or bamboo pedals that the weaver presses with shoeless feet. Then, a bar or a small plank servers to pull the thread.

Author: NA

Equipment: NA A95

All documentation on these pages was collected by the Ethnographic data bank of Laos through the Institute of Cultural Research, Laos P.D.R.