Indonesian Songket While the motifs and design

While the motifs and design are familiar styles of Crete

There is a text on one hem which is illegible but may have been in the Sungkai dialect

fashion and status

brick red and black stripes hand-dyed with natural organic dyes

Grounds were always horizontally striped to add additional layers as in this case of gold wrapped thread in pyramid like shapes

Indonesian Songket While the motifs and designThis is a beautiful 19th Century Indonesian textile. It is hand woven likely in Bali in silk, and hand dyed with natural dyes. Similar to the songket silver metallic threads are woven in last to stand out against the background and make for a shimmery effect. The figures are symbols of early tribal motifs which often indicated that when transformed into a garment the wearer had wealth and status. The colors in this textile are lush. Condition Good.