Title
Ceremonial cloth
Year/Period
19th century
Region
Lampung, South Sumatra
Dimension
Object size: L:68cm * W:60.4cm
Accession No.
1997-04428
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng
This ceremonial cloth or ‘tampan’ depicts two ships at the top and bottom, carrying small creatures, small tent-like structures as well as a large geometric structure in the center. Fine details of key and spiral motifs, as well as ancestor or deity figures, fill the background. Ship imagery in Lampung textiles symbolises a spiritual vessel that carries the community through transitions in life. Ceremonial cloths could be used as gifts, covers for ritual offerings or pillows for the deceased. It is normally woven using the supplementary weft technique, where additional horizontal threads create patterns over the top of the ground weave.
