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Works from the Donald Friend Collection - 27 October 2013  |  Sydney

Lot 223
Ceremonial Textile, 'Ship Cloth' (Tampan)
LAMPUNG, SOUTH SUMATRA

cotton with supplementary weft patterning. Reddish brown on natural colour cotton base. Depicting a large ship with a single human figure and geometric forms

82.0 x 68.5 cm



Estimate:
$1,000 - 2,000




Lot Details

Description

Ceremonial Textile, 'Ship Cloth' (Tampan) LAMPUNG, SOUTH SUMATRA

cotton with supplementary weft patterning. Reddish brown on natural colour cotton base. Depicting a large ship with a single human figure and geometric forms

82.0 x 68.5 cm

Catalogue text

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.