1983.130 Ceremonial cloth (pua) with monitor lizards slumbering on watchtowers (bandau bepadung)

Six monitor lizards confront their counterparts across a line symbolizing a spiritual chasm that keeps the reptiles from attacking one another. They are hedged within upper and lower bands of selaku, or borders. A stylized trophy head motif contained in the bands serves as spiritual nourishment for the reptiles so that they do not break free and devour the weaver and her family. The borders of this cloth are finished off with a design known as Bali Mabuk, or "Drunken Decapitated Corpse," a poetic name for staggering decapitated corpses of enemies.

Reptiles such as monitor lizards, crocodiles, pythons, and water serpents were harnessed as the spirit protectors of warriors; they advised and warned them of danger through dreams. Bandau Bepadung, or "Monitor Lizards Slumbering on Watchtowers," recalls the days of headhunting when warriors would often sit atop high platforms to survey and keep watch over their territory.

Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, 2016.

n.d. Steven G. Alpert, Dallas, Texas, received in exchange

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 1983.130