Artwork Page for Selimut (Man's Textile)

Details / Information for Selimut (Man's Textile)

Selimut (Man's Textile)

1900s

Indonesia, Savu, 20th century

Medium
cotton, ikat dyed
Measurements
Overall: 189.2 x 61 cm (74 1/2 x 24 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Edward Altmann 1981.216
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

The design of this selimut designates its owner as a member of the Lesser Blossom, one of two Savunese matriarchal groups that controlled life-crisis rituals. Membership in the Lesser or Greater Blossoms was never discussed verbally but only indicated through textile design. Textiles like this, with a very pure form of Lesser (or Greater) Blossom design, were reserved for ceremonial use.
A vertically long woven cotton textile features symmetrical bands of navy-blue, reddish-brown, and cream. Wide reddish-brown stripes bordered by black line the vertical edges. The interior contains repeating rows of blurred cream diamonds and X-shapes against a navy-blue ground. Every few columns, thin reddish-brown lines divide the patterns. Thin, multicolored fringes of loose thread hang from both the top and bottom horizontal margins.

Selimut (Man's Textile)

1900s

Indonesia, Savu, 20th century

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