Cultural storiesYunnan, Nujiang: Fugong and Gongshan; also Lanping
Prepares the drink a little at a time, working with a wooden cylinder and rich ingredients.
The story / Smolka
Knows how to fill the wait with a calm conversation.
Cultural context
Smolka / Collection
A hemp-cloth shirt and pale cape are accented by fine red-and-indigo bindings. Smolka holds a wooden tea cylinder with both paws.
A grey-cream shirt, soft indigo waistcoat and wide home trousers create a relaxed silhouette. Smolka holds a cup of butter tea on a small saucer.
A long pale shirt, short indigo waistcoat with red edging and striped hip wrap form a layered outfit. A wooden bowl of butter tea links it to Smolka’s tea story.
Beads complement the long pale tunic, dark-red waistcoat and striped belt. In this wedding interpretation, Smolka supports a tea gift at the belly.
A pale cloth shirt and dark waistcoat flow into a broad black skirt with coloured bands. Beads and a low wrap frame the three tea seeds, while a basket of leaves rests at the hip.
Shells, coins and beads accompany the white shirt, rust-red waistcoat and plum skirt. Smolka carries folded patterned cloth over the forearm, with a tea vessel secured at the waist.
00 / Original form
Three faceted waxy seeds share one stem above a narrow grey-beige head. Ringed eyes, a tall slim body and long paws echo the vertical shape.
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