Title
Shoulder cloth
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Minangkabau, West Sumatra
Dimension
Object size: L194 x W60.5 cm
Accession No.
1997-04482
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng
This shoulder cloth features rhomb motifs in its centrefield, and triangular ornamentation at the edges. It is worked in silver thread in supplementary weft, known as ‘songket’ on red silk. Although the art of songket weaving is practised across the Malay world, the Minangkabau are especially well known for both the quality of their songket as well as the high importance which they place in such textiles. Songket was a symbol of status and traditionally reserved for aristocrats in Minangkabau society. It was used during ceremonial occasions and weddings.
