Title
Ceremonial hanging
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Lampung, South Sumatra
Dimension
Object size: 319.8 x 60.6 cm
Accession No.
1997-04498
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng
This large ceremonial hanging, known as ‘palepai,’ is decorated with supplementary weft technique. It features a large ship with curved bows at the stem and prow of the ship. The deck of the ship appears to be stacked with the buffalo horn headdress, known as the ‘siger’. Ships symbolise organised communities and represent the change in life stage at transition rites such as initiation into adulthood, weddings and funerals, when palepai would be hung. Palepai were specific to the Paminggir people in the coastal area of South Lampung, and were the prerogative of the aristocrats.
