The Miao are an ethnic minority group from the mountainous provenances of southern China. This pillow is made from a fragment of a vintage Miao wedding blanket. These wedding blankets were woven in cotton and silk by the bride and her family as a gift to the groom and his family. The brocades feature elaborate geometric motifs that require a high level of skill. Within Miao families, weaving is taught from mother to daughter. Once the daughter masters this complex craft, she is considered ready for marriage.