Title
Ceremonial cloth
Year/Period
19th century
Region
Lampung, South Sumatra
Dimension
Object size: L:48.3cm * W:37cm
Accession No.
1997-04441
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng
This ceremonial cloth or ‘tampan’ features a ship with three tiers. Ship imagery in Lampung textiles symbolises a spiritual vessel that carries the community through transitions in life, hence ceremonial cloths were important at rites of passage such as rites of circumcision and weddings. Ceremonial cloths were also 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.
