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Thomas Murray Asiatica Ethnographica

Sarasa Trade Cloth (detail)
India, for the Indonesian Market
Cotton; block printed and painted dyes
17th Century
169 x 32"

A sari length cloth with three zones of different patterns including a mosaic tile motif, a repeat of a roundel with hamsa bird pattern and circular floral motif, detail shown. Such cloths were displayed in great ceremonies to define sacred space by the Toraja headhunters of Sulawesi and kept in aromatic wood treasure boxes for centuries.

all text, images © Thomas Murray Asiatica Ethnographica

 

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