1983.94 Woman's skirt (lau pahudu)

The dominant motif of this superb supplementary warp skirt is a large and bold fish. It may represent a ray, which is distinguished from other fish with horizontally flat bodies by its forked tail. The lines shown inside the body probably represent bones. Accompanying the fish are two equestrian figures and two women wearing sacred mamuli ornaments. Horses are symbols of wealth and prestige.

According to the Sumbanese, fish and other aquatic creatures are associated with the underworld. Revered ancestors manifest themselves in fish.

Roslyn Adele Walker, Label text, 2013.

Island Southeast Asia   

Until 1983: Steven G. Alpert, Dallas, Texas, purchased from private individual, Bali, Indonesia [1]

1983: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased from above [2]

Notes:

The main source for this provenance is the Pacific American Corp. document titled "Dallas Museum of Art: The Steven G. Alpert Collection of Indonesian Textiles" in the Collections Records file labeled Steven G. Alpert—Indonesian Textiles. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[1] Collection of Tama Umba Tanaggoendjoe, Raja of Pau  (belonged to the grandmother of Windi Tananggoendjoe, the Raja of Pau). This piece is well-known from photographs as one of the jewels of King Tama Umba Tanagoendjo's textile collection. A number of pieces were dispersed after his death. 

[2] See pages 1-4 of the correspondence between Harry S. Parker and Pacific American Corp. dated October 5, 1983, in the Collections Records file labeled Steven G. Alpert—Indonesian Textiles.

Apply to objects where number equals 1983.94