The Mao Era in Objects

⧉Image Handloom Cloth: Production

Handloom cloth of the type depicted here – handspun from local cotton and woven on simple wooden looms – was widely worn during the collective years, typically dyed indigo blue or left undyed.

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setting-up-the-loom.jpg
Title
Image 1 Setting up the loom
Date
2008
Creator
Jacob Eyferth
Publisher
N/A
Rights
Courtesy of Jacob Eyferth
Description

74-year old Wei Yuqin is setting up the loom by passing the longitudinal warp threads through the heddle (zeng 综 – the part of the loom that moves up and down, lifting each second warp thread so that the weft thread can pass through, forming a crisscross pattern). This process is known as 'threading the heddle' (guozeng 过综).

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spinning.jpg
Title
Image 2 Spinning thread
Date
2008
Creator
Jacob Eyferth
Publisher
N/A
Rights
Courtesy of Jacob Eyferth
Description

The spinner holds a sliver (nianzi 捻子) of carded cotton in her left hand. With her right hand, she drives the wheel. The wheel drives the spindle, which twists the fibers; at the same time, the spinner is drawing out the thread.

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weaver-in-Gedatou.jpg
Title
Image 3 Weaving
Date
2008
Creator
Jacob Eyferth
Publisher
N/A
Rights
Courtesy of Jacob Eyferth
Description

In the Mao years, most households in Gedatou would have looms like this one. In this image, the weaver pulls the batten (kou 筘, a wooden beater that pushes the warp threads together) towards her. The yarn she uses is no longer homespun but bought from a yarn dealer in the nearest town.