Dancing Mantis

This cushion cover is made by the weavers of Amanuban in Timor using cotton fibers in a supplementary warp wrap patterning technique that have been dyed black with mud dyes and tannins. The solid rust color backing is made from handspun cotton and woven on a backstrap loom in Java and dyed with a sustainably harvested bark from a species of mangrove called Ceriops tagal in the Threads of Life Dye Studio.

The motif on this cushion Atalae is a pattern in the form of a praying mantis. If you look at the eyes and front legs of a praying. mantis they are very human like. The Atalae symbolize the path of the ancestor. When we are clear and ask for guidance, our path will always be clear. 

These handmade natural dyed cushions would be exquisite on a couch, chair or bed. Each cushion cover comes with an inner lining with zipper so all that is required is for you to add the dacron and enjoy your handmade pillow. 

Ikat with natural dyes on cotton and woven in Timor, 2024. Back panel handspun cotton handwoven in Tuban, Java. 2023. Size 34 x 31 cm / 13.5 x 12 in