Sumatran antique Palembang ceremonial headcover (86 x 84cm)

An antique silk ceremonial headcloth iket kepala from southern Sumatra done in a combination of supplementary gold weaving songket over silk weft ikat limar. The gold thread is untarnished indicative of high quality materials. Songket textiles are closely identified in Southeast Asia with Malay-Islamic cultures both on Sumatra and the Malay penninsular. The cloth has some damage, which has been rectified and reinforced by the use of a thin muslin type cotton support verso.

• early 20th cent

Ref. 16712