Resilience of Culture and Tradition

This spectacular three part handspun textile with uncut warp threads in this village is called a kreot nai telon. It is an essential gift that accompanies marriage. The neighboring village calls this type of textile Kwatek Nai Telon which have been sought after by textile collectors for centuries - especially old pieces. The remarkable quality is evidence that this art is still alive and that weavers continue to have the skill, desire and resources to make a textile such as this. Collectors would prefer we think these arts are finished - but this is evidence that this is not so.

The motif on this textile is called kugupungan which refers to the flower of the tree locally called kugung (Microcos sp). This textile took three years to complete, from spinning the thread to dyeing the threads with their precisely tied patterns repeatedly. The colours in this textile are an extraordinary example of the deep browns, rusts and indigo that make the south Lembata textiles so unique. A textile such as this sell for a high price on the island of Lembata as they are highly sought after for bride wealth gift exchange. Textile offered to the grooms family by the brides clan are exchanged for horses, buffalo, silver or gold.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Warp ikat, three panels sewn together into a tube with uncut warp ends, handspun cotton, natural dyes. Ikat tied, dyed and woven in Wulandoni, Lembata, 2024. Size 174 x 70 cm / 68.5 x 27.5 in