LAMPUNG, SOUTH SUMATRA

Works from the Donald Friend Collection
Sydney
27 October 2013
225

CEREMONIAL TEXTILE, 'SHIP CLOTH' (TAMPAN)

LAMPUNG, SOUTH SUMATRA

cotton with supplementary weft patterning. Red geometric motif on natural cotton, blue, red, yellow in border

39.0 x 40.0 cm

Estimate: 
$1,000 - 2,000
Catalogue text

Geometric motifs such as a hookor key pattern, swirl, spiral andother motif symbolise the rotation of the cosmos and of the sun.

This textile from the Lampung region of South Sumatra was made during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Such cloths are referred to as 'ship cloths' because of the obvious ship motif which symbolises the transition from one stage of life to another. The textiles were used in a range of transition rites, as part of ritual gift exchange, as ceremonial seats for the bride and groom and as pillows for the deceased.