Batik

In the village of Baan Tong Luang (see separate post) I came across an elderly Hmong woman making designs on a piece of white cloth.

She had a small brazier (visible in the picture above behind her right elbow) which warmed a pot of black fluid. She held what looked like a chopstick with a pointed funnel at one end, and she was carefully making dots between lines with black wax to make a batik.

Interestingly enough, she held the tool at what I would have considered to be the reverse direction.

I watched her for awhile, asked permission to take pictures, and noticed several rolls of fabric that seemed to be complete, so I asked how much she would charge to sell me some. She didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak Hmong, but her daughter appeared, carrying a small child who turned out to be the elderly woman’s granddaughter.

While the daughter and I finished the transaction, Grandma held the child, who seemed fascinated with the tool.

And curious about me.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find out how long it took Grandma to complete one meter of cloth. I do know that I paid 300Baht, about $10 (pus a balloon for the child). I wonder how long the making of Batik will continue, and whether the granddaughter will carry on that tradition….. Sadly, it seems unlikely.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

2/4/18