Late 18th century textile from Indonesia
Object No. A10554
Ceremonial textile (palepai), cotton, Lampung Region, Sumatra, Indonesia, 1850-1900.
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Summary
Physical Description
Rectangular shaped woven home spun cotton textile with supplementary weft in earth colours of dark blue, browns, red and rich yellow. Features various ship symbols which relate to life-crisis ritual.
DIMENSIONS
Width
700 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
This rare palepai is decorated with rows of stylised human figures standing in ships. The ship is a symbol of transition in many parts of Indonesia. Ship cloths are present during the rites of passage such as birth, circumcision, tooth-filing, marriage and particularly funerals, when the ship transports the soul of the deceased onto the next realm. Palepai also feature in ceremonies declaring the rank of Paminggir leaders. This textile was made 1850-1900.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1984
Acquisition Date
24 July 1984
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