Unknown Artist
- Title
- Kain songket
- Place of origin
-
Sumatra →
Indonesia
- Media category
- Textile
- Materials used
- silk, gold thread and natural dyes
- Dimensions
-
86.0 x 203.0cm
- Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of Dr John Yu 1998
- Accession number
- 119.1998
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
One of the most prestigious of locally produced cloths is the colourful silk weft ikat textiles of Palembang in Sumatra. This elaborate ‘red and gold’ example is woven with an intricate pattern in a supplementary weft weave (‘songket’) which replicates the motifs of the coveted ‘patola’, and uses, as in this piece, gold metal-wrapped threads. These textiles were folded lengthwise and worn over the shoulder or wrapped around the waist. They were usually worn on important ceremonial occasions. The richer and more sumptuous the display of gold on any particular textile, the greater the wealth and prestige of the wearer’s family. Palembang, on the eastern coast of Sumatra, was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Srivijaya. As a wealthy trading power in Southeast Asia, it attracted Indian and Chinese traders, who introduced silk and the technique of silk weaving. A social class wealthy enough to enjoy such luxurious textiles ensured their production.
The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.346.
- Bibliography (2)
-
The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, 2003, 346-347 (colour illus.). The colour illus. on page 347 is a detail of this work.
Robyn Maxwell (Australia) (Author), Textiles of Southeast Asia : tradition, trade and transformation, Canberra, 1990. Compare with cat.no. 258
- Exhibition history (1)
-
Symbols and Ceremonies: Indonesian Textile Traditions, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 13 Apr 2006–28 May 2006.
