We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

'Phaa Koei' (Funeral banner) with 'tree of life' design

early 20th century

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Other Title
    Ceremonial hanging with 'tree of life' design
    Place where the work was made
    Sam Nuea Laos
    Cultural origin
    Tai Daeng
    Date
    early 20th century
    Media category
    Textile
    Materials used
    silk; discontinuous supplementary weft weaving
    Dimensions
    68.1 x 201.0 cm
    Credit
    Gift of Nomadic Rug Traders 2003
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    224.2003
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    This funerary banner ('phaa koei') has been made in a style associated with Sam Nuea province in Laos. Such banners are hung in the cemetery for the duration of the funerary ceremony, which lasts for three to nine days depending on the wealth of the family. The decorative motifs include the tree of life, the double arrow, flowers, and birds, and they are woven with multi-coloured threads using the discontinuous supplementary weft technique. The warp threads are varying shades of a pinkish-brown, and the weft threads are varying shade of pinkish-red.

    Asian Art Department, AGNSW, October 2011