Song of The Rooster

Beti Krao is a two-panel man’s hip cloth worn as everyday dress and for some ceremonies. The motif maun kabas refers to a rooster. We can rely on the roosters to wake the community every morning with its call to get on with the work of the day.

The textile’s deep red is from the bark of the root of Morinda citrifolia. Such depth of color requires at least 30 applications on well-oiled threads, which can take up to six months to achieve.

The center, where the two sections are sewn together, contains bands of small full ikat patterning with smaller strips of color and partial ikat patterning on either side of these bands. The number of full ikat patterning bands total 4, 6 or 8, depending on the status and age of the wearer; the more bands, the higher the age and status.

This piece is stunning as a wall hanging or as a bed throw. Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Warp ikat, two panels stitched together, open fringe, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Ikat tied, dyed and woven in Malaka, Timor, 2024. Size 216 x 121 cm / 85 x 47.5 in