photo source
The women of many Dayak tribes weave glass beads into fascinating patterns that are used to decorate the unusual baby baskets that are sometimes the most valuable piece of property that a family possesses.
This type of baby basket is called ba. Mothers use them to carry their babies around on their backs from their birth and until they are two years old. The framework for the basket is usually made of rattan, which is then decorated with a complex fabric of beads.
Baby carrier, Kenyah Dayak People, Borneo, ca. 1920 - 1940. Photo source
Baby carrier, Bahau people. Borneo 20th century. Wikimechanics Library
Magical amulets made of old beads, buttons, coins, cowry shells or animal teeth are often loosely attached. The number of teeth hung gives the indication of the sex of the baby: even number for a girl and odd for a boy. The slightest movement creates the rattling noise that is meant to keep evil spirits away. The bead patterns also indicate the social status of the baby's parents. The ba of a noble family will be decorated with a human figure or the dog-dragon motif, while lower-ranking tribal members use geometric patterns.
Baby carrying baskets from Sarawak. Museum Volunteers
Carrying a baby in a beaded basket. Photo courtesy D Lumenta
For Dayaks ba is not just a baby carrier, it is a work of art, a device for protecting a child’s health, a display of social rank and a family heirloom.
More about ba carriers you can find in the article from Penn Museum
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Wow, what amazing baby carriers! A little more glamorous and interesting than our conventional baby slings, that's for sure. xxx
ReplyDeleteLOVE this! its such a gorgeous design with beautiful colors!
ReplyDeletelifeisashoe
Oh my gosh those are so amazing! People would spend tons of loot on them here in America, it would be a hipster feeding frenzy :) Thank you for sharing these beautiful and fun pieces. Happy weekend to you my lovely friend! xoxo
ReplyDeleteAll Things Bright and Lovely
Wow! Very interesting to know! These baby carriers are quite creative and beautiful. Lovely way to carry babies in these unique baskets :)
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful post! I think those baby carriers could be wonderful bags too! (With little changes of course)
ReplyDeleteThese baby carriers are really a work of art! Perhaps the sounds that the teeth creates when the carriage is in movements also keep the babies entertained, like modern toys we have today. I always love to see traditional toys and baby products, they show how much love the parents and family always had for their children. In my hometown Split, on the day of our patron saint, traditional wooded toys are sold. When I was little, my mother would made me Barbie dolls made of paper and there were matching paper outfits that you could change...I really enjoyed that!
ReplyDeletethank you on both your comments( about the story and about the pants). I tried to create a detailed design on the pants and I was inspired by traditional embroidery.