Object Notes

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.

Ikat-patterned textiles from the small island of Sumba in eastern Indonesia have long been famous for clarity of color and complexity of design.

Among the goods brought to Indonesia by Arab and Indian traders were silk and metallic yarns, materials distinctively integrated into the weaving traditions of Sumatra, Bali, and Sumbawa.