Red Horses and Ancestors

This is the one of the most highly valued woman's textile for this matriarchal community. The central ikat motif is called both Atoni and Bikase. Atoni means human and Bikase, means horse. Horses are used not only as a pack animal but are also gifts at a marriage exchange as are textiles.

This woman's sarong is called a tais keut bati which refers to the important centrefield of ikat patterning. Only a master weaver may weave this kind of cloth and she must ask permission from her ancestor first by bringing an offering of betel nut to the traditional house. When she finishes the cloth which might take as long as 6 months she returns to the traditional house with another offering and some threads of the cloth she has woven to acknowledge that the work is complete.

To attain the deep colour of that is typical of textiles from this area requires mastery of the time consuming red dye and mordanting techniques. The threads are repeatedly dyed up to 30 times to achieve this rich classic colour. 

This will look lovely as a bed throw or wall hanging.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Warp ikat, three panels stiched together and sewn as a tube, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Ikat tied, dyed and woven in Malaka, Timor, 2014. Size 116 x 64 cm / 45.5 x 25 in