Handwoven in the 1960s' in Motomoron near the Belu TTU border using mostly handspun cotton and natrural dyes. Thin stipes of commercial thread have been used to intersperse the Ikat stipes of kaif motif or hook and rhomba which tells of the weavers clan and totemic spirits. The borders of this tubular womens 'skirt' called sarong or Tais are edged with a lovely diamond/cross motif executed in subtle old colours of embroidery thread. A fine addition to any collection.

116cm circumference x 126cm long

46" circ. x 49.5" long

Timorese Textiles are a tradition in their own right. No two weavings are the same as the weaver is not allowed to weave the same "story" twice. Motifs and construction vary from area to area often changing every 2-3km. Woven on a simple backstrap loom using 3 techniques. IKAT meaning to tie and denotes the pieces where the warp thread is tied off to produce the motif or pattern and dyed. LOTIS is supplementary weft weaving where the weft threads are "pulled" through to create a "negative" image on the reverse side. BUNA is where embroidery thread is wrapped into the weft to decorate the weaving. Commercial thread is smoother and thinner than handspun cotton. An amazing reference book has been compiled by Ruth Yeager and Mark Jacobson : Textiles of West Timor ISBN;974-4800-01-1 A worthy and worthwhile treatise.