Indigo and white hand drawn batik robe from the Ge minority of the Miao people of sw China. Both the robe and the plain inner lining are pure cotton and the designs feature the traditional good luck motifs common to Miao decorative arts. These include birds, butterflies, dragons and fish, often paired to form a ying/yang sign, again invoking fertility. The drawing of these very elaborate wax-resist patterns is highly skilled and the craft is on the list for inclusion in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The general layout of the robe, especially the local version of a "cloud collar" is clearly influenced by formal Han clothing. The robe was bought "used" c.1980 but, although worn, it is in excellent condition. It was presumably made some time in the mid-20th c.