Lampung Embroidered Jacket

Short jackets such as this example were worn by young, unmarried Kauer women together with a sarong. They are constructed from a rectangular piece of woven cotton cloth coloured with natural dyes.

The front piece comprises beautiful separate blue and pink floral silk panels embroidered with thread wrapped with gold.

The back panel is of black cotton woven with red, orange, green and brown geometric motifs..

The many cowrie or nassa shells about the neck and collar and stitched to the back most probably are designed to express the hope that the wearer will have many children. The neck is also decorated with sequins.

Click here to see an example in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The example here is in good condition. It is free of repairs. The silk panels show some age-related deterioration as can be expected of silk.