Turtles

These glorious cushion covers are made up of a traditional cloth woven in Malaka in West Timor using natural dyes and traditional ikat motifs. The red dye process is the most time consuming process of all dyes as roots of barks are pounded, squeezed and threads repeatedly dyed until the desired red is achieved. The solid coloured backing cloth is made by weavers in Timor.

The motif on this cushion is called lenuk or turtle and symbolizes fertility. Water is so essential to these dry outer islands and a motif like the turtle speaks to this. A turtle requires water to live and it also bears many eggs. Weavers believe that in making this motif, she is requesting the ancestor to bring rain and make the land fertile.

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, 2023. Size 50 x 22 cm / 19.5 x 8.5 in