Handwoven on a simple backstrap loom in the Kingdom of Biboke in central highlands of West Timor. Superbly executed 3 colour ikat that has been released by the Kings household to the wider world. Usually these motifs are kept within the royal household and the textiles woven with them only worn on high ceremonial occassions such as weddings , crop abundance rituals and funerals.

Morinda dyes on  commercial thread with a dark chocolate background and thin side bands of pale blue and pink. Motif name is Babenusa.

c2011 Collected in the field by Julie Emery. 20 years experience specialising in Timorese textiles, artifact, craft and fossils.

151cm long x 22cm wide.

34.5" long x 9" wide.

Depending on your location we may be able to send this lovely scarf to you in a sturdy envelope. Please wait for invoice before paying or you can combine items and maximise shipping.

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 very differing 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 or 'float' weave where the weft threads are "pulled" through to create a "negative" image on the reverse side. In the elaborate BUNA pieces embroidery thread is wrapped into the weft during the weaving process 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.