Indonesian Art - Sumba Motif Blanket

Indonesian Art - Sumba Motif Blanket

Finely handwoven in the island of Java, this piece is a dramatically executed reproduction of one of the styles of weaving from Sumba in the eastern archipelago of Indonesia. The blanket is folded over at the top so that you can see that the reverse side is the same as the front. Woven in the warp ikat method, the warp threads are tied off by dye-resisting materials to produce a pattern or decoration after dying with natural dyes. This process is repeated for each additional color. After the dyeing process is finished, the cotton threads are attached to and woven on a wooden loom. The colors are brown, cream and rust.

The main motifs are paired winged horses and human figures with lesser paired reptiles. The center, which can be seen below the folded portion, contain the reptiles and large scorpions, also in couples. All representations in Sumba weavings are symbolic of the spiritual or the temporal in the life of the Sumbanese. The couples signify natural law. The human figures are royalty or important people in the community. The horses represent courage and fidelity and are vehicles for ancestral spirits.

This striking weaving could be used as a wall hanging, couch throw or as a spread for a single bed.