The collection is comprised of approximately 5,000 decorated baby carriers.
Their ages range from over 100 years to about 15 years, with the great majority having been made in the period between 1925 and 1975.
As textiles, which are prone to gradual deterioration, and as utilitarian objects subject to the normal wear and tear of actual use, many of the baby carriers show evidence of their age, such as fading and surface abrasion. Despite this, they remain good examples of a traditional craft that is rapidly disappearing as the ethnic minorities within China and Southeast Asia become ever more assimilated into the modern mainstream cultural milieu.
The purpose of the collection is to preserve and photographically document a meaningful sampling of this art form, with an emphasis on pieces that are especially creative and beautiful.