Ship cloth from Lampung (Sumatra, Indonesia)

Beadwork 'Ship Cloth' from Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia, probably 18th century. Beadwork 'Ship Cloth' from Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia, probably 18th century. Courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, acc. no. 1990.335.28.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses a ceremonial banner from Lampung, southern Sumatra, Indonesia. It probably dates to the eighteenth century and measures 411.5 x 123.2 cm. It seems to be a palepai, the name for a large hanging that was displayed by the wealthy on important occasions. Such hangings often carried representations of large ships.

The decoration on this cloth is worked with beadwork of ceramic and glass beads and nassa shells.

See also the entry on the embroidered sarong, from the same region, and also embroidered with ship motifs.

Metropolitan Museum of Art online catalogue (retrieved 8 January 2017).

WV

Last modified on Thursday, 13 May 2021 19:32