Cotton and ceramic doll, 'Hmong Belle'

Poised and beautiful, this young girl proudly represents the Hmong hill tribe. Suwit Suthamtha crafts the endearing doll faithful to the Hmong's traditional clothing. Dressed in cotton, the face and limbs are shaped of ceramic and features kapok seeds for filling. The Hmong people live in many parts of Southeast Asia and are divided into two separate groups: the Blue Hmong and the White Hmong. Women traditionally hand-craft clothing for their families using cotton or hemp, creating richly decorated attire with magnificent embroidery, often complemented by silver jewelry. For centuries the Hmong have sustained themselves through the cultivation of the opium poppy. However, most people are now seeking alternative markets, such as the fabrication and selling of exquisite needlework. Strict animists, the Hmong rely on shamans who use dramatic methods to contact the spirits.