Title
Kebaya
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Manado, Indonesia Archipelago
Dimension
Gross measurement: 70 x 122.5 cm
Accession No.
2010-01317
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Father Robbie Wowor in memory of grandmother, Mrs Tan Tjien Sian née Tjoa Soan Tjoe Nio. Manado, Indonesia
Kebayas are commonly made from voile, a fine cotton fabric of French or Swiss origins. The decorative motifs could be then embroidered onto the fabric using lacework executed in silk threads. This piece contains motifs of sunflowers on the fringes of the sleeves, as well as the frontal hems, fanning outwards and downwards from waist level, covering much of the entire lower portions of the kebaya. Lace kebayas were seldom worn for day to day purposes but usually worn on special occasions such as feasts. The value of a kebaya was usually determined by the quality of the embroidered lacework and the extent and intricacy of the designs. This piece is one such example of fine workmanship.
