19th century
Iban (Dayak) district,
Borneo
Borneo
Object qualities
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Object
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumCotton ikat dyed textile
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SizeH. 9 ft. Г— W. 24 in. (274.3 Г— 61 cm)
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Geography details
Iban (Dayak) district,
Borneo -
Country today
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Date19th century
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CultureIban-Dayak
Source of information
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Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
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Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
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This nineteenth century, rare Iban cloth from the Dayak peoples of Borneo is in excellent condition and features a supremely well-executed pilih (supplementary weft) technique on an unusually large-scale. The cloth comprises a red background offset with dramatic designs picked out in black and white. Two pairs of lizard-like creatures with protruding tongues and coiled tails face each other, their arms and legs set animatedly on either side of the body as if in readiness to strike. A double zig-zag border separates their line of symmetry. Elaborate foliate designs fill the spaces in-between these central figures and seal the longitudinal design at each end.