Ceremonial banner
Not on view
Sumatra is renowned for its distinguished tradition of gold and silver bound silk thread embroidered textiles. This cloth likely served as a banner or cover, perhaps associated with a bridal chamber. The textile tradition to which this cloth belongs reflects the marriage of two traditions long familiar to the peoples of Sumatra, the gold and silver embroidery of southern China, and a predilection for non-figurative adornment growing out of a deep faith in Islam. Both these sources were active in the region by the 15th century, and shaped the indigenous textile traditions thereafter.
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