1983.84 Symbolic cloth with rattan pattern (ragi hotang)

The somber yet majestic color scheme of Batak textiles contrasts starkly with the raw energy of much Batak sculpture.  The restricted palette is richly symbolic, for in ritual contexts black (or very dark blue), red, and white represent the three cosmic levels—the lower, middle, and upper worlds. This particular ulos, or cloth, takes its name, ragi hotang ("rattan pattern"), from the delicate white dashes in the warp stripes at its center; these imitate the markings on rattan, itself a symbol of long life to the Batak.

Carol Robbins, Label text, 1990.

Indonesia  

Until 1983: Steven G. Alpert, Dallas, Texas, purchased from M.L. Toruan, Jakarta, 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] M.L. Toruan was a descendant of a Batak kingly line. The piece was woven by his grandmother.

[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 1983.84