Sign language to explore memories
A lady is weaving in the dusty courtyard in the front of the house, two steps away from the street where rice is drying in the sun. We got off our motobikes.
In this village, they practice ikat on silk. After dyeing the silk threads according to a set pattern, they prepare meticulously the bobins which will e bwoven using a bamboo shuttle.
The warp is plain black and they use plain weave.
The design is sufficiently precise to represent temples and elephants and mayn other subjects, but the blurry edges add character to the pieces.
So I tried to find out what type of dye they use. Eventually, I was shown this swatch of colours and the bags of powder.
It turns out they buy chemical dyes from Thailand.
Through much sign language and rough translation, I got through to the old couple.
'In the old days, when you did not have these powders, what leaves and plants did you use to dye the threads?"
The mother, Saon Mamo understood my query. She went straight to a nearby tree and came back with some lleaves. They used to extract green dye from it.
What about blue?
Blue, they got from far away from the mountains, she said. Red also.
But for yellow, the father, Chau Mom fetched a piece of bark, which turned yellow when he wetted it!
There was a lot of excitment and laughter by the time we took off to return to Chau Doc. Perhaps when I return one day, they will be using their plant dyes again?
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| Ikat dyed weft |
A lady is weaving in the dusty courtyard in the front of the house, two steps away from the street where rice is drying in the sun. We got off our motobikes.
In this village, they practice ikat on silk. After dyeing the silk threads according to a set pattern, they prepare meticulously the bobins which will e bwoven using a bamboo shuttle.
The warp is plain black and they use plain weave.The design is sufficiently precise to represent temples and elephants and mayn other subjects, but the blurry edges add character to the pieces.
 |
| Bobins are carefully organised to ensure the right pattern formation. |
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| Samy, the weaver and daughter |
So I tried to find out what type of dye they use. Eventually, I was shown this swatch of colours and the bags of powder.
It turns out they buy chemical dyes from Thailand.
 |
| Saon Mamo told me how they dyed silk with plants |
'In the old days, when you did not have these powders, what leaves and plants did you use to dye the threads?"
 |
| Chau Mom showing a piece of bark used to dye in yellow. |
The mother, Saon Mamo understood my query. She went straight to a nearby tree and came back with some lleaves. They used to extract green dye from it.
What about blue?
Blue, they got from far away from the mountains, she said. Red also.
But for yellow, the father, Chau Mom fetched a piece of bark, which turned yellow when he wetted it!
There was a lot of excitment and laughter by the time we took off to return to Chau Doc. Perhaps when I return one day, they will be using their plant dyes again?
 |
| Their village of Ap sray skoth, Xa Van Giao, South of Mont Sam |
hi Anne, wonderful! Did you happen to get the name of the plants they showed for the green and yellow dyes? Looks wonderful. Thanks!
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