Diamond shapes are a very common motif in Lao textiles and we really like this "Connections" series of silk scarves designed by Nuaykeo Gallery.
Mary Connors writes in her book
Lao Textiles and Traditions that "the diamond or lozenge shape is an important, powerful shape and yet one open to a variety of interpretations. It is a good example of an ancient symbol common to many cultures which acquires additional meanings with the arrival of outside influences. Some scholars link this shpae with fertility - the navel or womb - while others see it as part of the Buddhist-Hindu cosmology. In India, the lozenge reflects 'the diamond being'."
Inside the large diamond shapes at either end of the scarves are woven different motifs, such as ancestor figures, geometric shapes or the hong-saang (a mythical bird/elephant figure).
