Ikat Textile From Toraja Tribe of Sulawesi With Stunning Tribal Motifs C. 1900

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A very large Irate Textile from the Toraja tribes of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Toraja tribes people are an ethnic and … Read more A very large Irate Textile from the Toraja tribes of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Toraja tribes people are an ethnic and cultural group of people who occupy the mountainous highlands of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Famous for their unique architecture and carvings, the Torah also produce stunningly intricate textiles. Much like other textile producing regions of Indonesia, textiles were influenced by trade networks that stretched to India and other parts of South East Asia. These textiles are hand-woven, often taking many months to create, through a method passed on through generations. The textiles are crafted from cotton and natural dye. The abstract pattern on the textile is meant to represent the journey of life. This textile is known as a Sarita, which are among the largest and most valuable textiles or “Ikats” as they are referred to in Indonesia. They have become increasingly rare to find & acquire as the tradition has slowly become less prevalent. These textiles are prominently displayed during ceremonies to decorate traditional houses, symbolizing that the full cycle of rituals—such as weddings. This textile is visibly old with fading of the dye over many decades, there is a small tear highlighted in the images See less