Long tunic

Title
Long tunic
Year/Period
18th or early 19th century
Region
Lampung, South Sumatra
Dimension
Gross measurement: 122 x 142 cm,
Gross Measurement: 124.5 x 142 x 6 cm
Accession No.
2011-00111
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Kip Lee

This is a star piece in the museum’s collection owing to its rarity. The Kebaya is a long robe with several characteristic features. The front and back are constructed with a single, continuous piece of cloth. The front flaps, which do not have buttons or fastenings, are wider at the bottom, creating an angled overlap. The sleeves have additional gussets (a patch of cloth supporting the underarm area). This piece is a patchwork of Indian trade cloths and cotton, silk and wool from China, Indonesia and Europe as well. It has a sembagi-type pattern of two different rosettes of cream and dark red alternating in a geometric pattern. The olive green ground is filled with foliate sprigs of the same red, cream with blue details.