1983.67 Woman's ceremonial skirt (tapis)

This opened tubular skirt (tapis) combines a rich mixture of colors, foreign and local materials, and an opulent embroidered and appliqué center panel. It would have been worn by an aristocratic woman as a marriage skirt, or donned during dances and important ceremonial functions.

The center panel is divided into four sections. Each is dominated by a stylized tree of life. Branches support fruit, monkeys, humans, hornbills and other birds, and various upper world symbols. Below two of the trees are underworld serpents (naga). Under the root structure of the other trees are human figures. These figures most likely represent the tradition in pre-Islamic times of stabilizing an important ceremonial event with human sacrifice (irau). Here, the tree of life enshrines age-old Indonesian notions of fertility, generational continuity, and the blessing of the ancestors.

Roslyn Walker, Label text, 2013.

Until 1980 or 1981: Mrs. Djody Munir, Jakarta, Indonesia

1980 or 1981-1983: Steven G., Alpert, Dallas, Texas, purchased from above 

1983: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased from above [1]

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] 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 1983.67