Title
Tube skirt
Year/Period
Early 19th century, possibly as early as late 18thC.
Region
Ngadha, Central Flores, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesian Archipelago
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Image size: 162.2 x 79.2 cm
Accession No.
2006-00205
Collection of
This rare tubular skirt, known as a 'lawo butu', was worn by women for only the most important community ceremonies including the consecration of a recently felled tree for the building of a clan house. The antique beads used to decorate these cloths were treasured heirlooms and only wealthy men could afford to have such a cloth made. The cloths were given the name of the commissioner and thus are also known as 'lawo ngaza' or “named sarong”.
