Most Prestigious Cloth

Geringsing has become synonymous with double-ikat, the demanding process whereby warp and weft threads are ikat-dyed independently before weaving, such that the perpendicular patterns exactly coincide in the finished cloth. Geringsing, however, literally means "against sickness". The textiles are considered magically protective and are used during Tengananese rituals as offerings or clothing. Geringsing textiles are made in the small village of Tenganan in east Bali. The weaving technique is very unique. Most textiles made in Indonesia have the pattern tied onto either the warp or weft threads. But Tenganan textiles are double ikat whereby both the warp (horizontal threads) and the weft (cross wise threads) are tied with the same pattern.

The motif on this textile is called geringsing wayang and is one of the ritually important textiles in Tenganan. It contains a full lubeng star-shaped pattern and said to represent a cross-cut of a stupa. If you look carefully you will see the three human-like wayang kulit shadow puppet figures; perhaps a priest with two supplicants.

A textile of very this quality can take more than 5 years to complete due to the complexity of the ikat patterning and the natural dye process. This is a true masterpiece of art.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Double Ikat, single panel, open fringe, handspun cotton, natural dyes. Ikat tied, dyed and woven in Tenganan, Bali, 2017. Size 240 x 59 cm / 94.5 x 23 in