Flores Woman's Sarong

In Central Flores near Ende, this lawo singi sarong is worn by women of the Ndona ethnic group for special ceremonies. Its name means the central motif has bands on the outer edges.

The central ikat motif is called mata rote, which refers to a vine connecting heaven and earth. Many traditional communities have a tale that refers to this vine which is akin to our Jack in the Beanstalk story. In traditional communities it is believed that the first inhabitants of the earth climbed this vine to heaven to ask for fire which they then brought down to their hearths and used for cooking. In many traditional communities the fire in a hearth of a traditional house must always remain lit and requires that an elder woman is always tending the fire. The Ndona weavers are renowned for their exceptional dye work, and their process is one of the most complex Threads of Life has ever recorded, taking several months to complete.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Warp ikat, three panels stitched together and sewn as a tube, commercial cotton, natural dyes, Ikat tied, dyed and woven in Ende, Flores, 2020. Size 190 x 70 cm / 75 x 27.5 in