Gold Thread & Red Silk Songket,
Minangkabau People, South Sumatra, Indonesia
circa 1930
length: 203cm; width: 76.5cm
This fine songket comes from the Minangkabau-Malay people of South Sumatra. It comprises Chinese red silk brocaded with gold thread - an extremely
time consuming process. The quantity of the gold thread used has given this textile a heaviness. The central panel is filled with repeated flower motifs.
Panels at either end have further flower motifs and geometric designs.
Although relatively large, the length-ways folds still visible in this cloth suggest that it was used as a ceremonial shoulder cloth (kain selendag songket).
Condition: excellent and stable. There is some minor staining from use and a few loose threads. The colours and gold work are still very sharp. There
are no holes. No significant conservation work on this piece should be necessary.
References: Other similar songkets are illustrated in: Summerfield, A & J (eds), Walk in Splendor: Ceremonial Dress and the Minangkabau, The Fowler
Museum, 1999; and Maxwell, R., Sari to Sarong: Five Hundred Years of Indians and Indonesian Textile Exchange, NGA, 2003.
Inventory no.: 559
Click here to see more Asian textiles and related items.
Minangkabau People, South Sumatra, Indonesia
circa 1930
length: 203cm; width: 76.5cm
This fine songket comes from the Minangkabau-Malay people of South Sumatra. It comprises Chinese red silk brocaded with gold thread - an extremely
time consuming process. The quantity of the gold thread used has given this textile a heaviness. The central panel is filled with repeated flower motifs.
Panels at either end have further flower motifs and geometric designs.
Although relatively large, the length-ways folds still visible in this cloth suggest that it was used as a ceremonial shoulder cloth (kain selendag songket).
Condition: excellent and stable. There is some minor staining from use and a few loose threads. The colours and gold work are still very sharp. There
are no holes. No significant conservation work on this piece should be necessary.
References: Other similar songkets are illustrated in: Summerfield, A & J (eds), Walk in Splendor: Ceremonial Dress and the Minangkabau, The Fowler
Museum, 1999; and Maxwell, R., Sari to Sarong: Five Hundred Years of Indians and Indonesian Textile Exchange, NGA, 2003.
Inventory no.: 559
Click here to see more Asian textiles and related items.
(Detail - however the gold colour of the
thread has not been sufficiently
captured in this image.)
thread has not been sufficiently
captured in this image.)
