Deepest Red Timor

This is a decorative belt worn by male dancers in the Malaka regency of Timor, as part of their ceremonial dress for ritual performances, known as likurai. The long cloth is wrapped around the waist, with the ends draping down towards the dancer’s feet.

The deep red dye is characteristic of Malaka textiles. Made from the bark of Morinda citrifolia roots, master dyers will dye their threads up to 36 times over several months to achieve this wonderful depth of colour.
The ikat motif on this textile is called 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.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Warp ikat, single panel, twisted fringe, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Ikat tied, dyed and woven in Malaka, Timor, 2023. Size 254 x 28 cm / 100 x 11 in