Ceremonial cloth (pua)

Late 19th century

Not on view

This is a rare ceremonial cloth (pua) from Borneo, Indonesia. In pristine condition, the cloth has longitudinal decorative strips at each side that feature dramatic elongated anthropomorphic figures representative of ancestors. The designs at the centre of the cloth feature fluid designs in natural color on a foundation of rich red. This contrasting color-way offsets the strong interlocking designs and rows of formalized geometry that are accentuated by pale blue-grey indigo highlights to anchor the design. The designs fill the entire body of the textile aside from the small sections of rich red at each end.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Ceremonial cloth (pua)
Date: Late 19th century
Geography: Indonesia, Borneo
Culture: Iban artist
Medium: Cotton, dyes
Dimensions: Including fringes: W. 45 1/2 × L. 82 1/2 in. (115.6 × 209.6 cm)
Classification: Textiles
Credit Line: Gift of Eric Moskal, 2021
Object Number: 2021.439.2
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Topi (beaded hat with forehead ornament), Dayak artist, Fiber, cotton trade cloth, glass beads, animal teeth, brass, Dayak people — Topi (beaded hat with forehead ornament)
Dayak artist
19th–early 20th century

Ceremonial Textile (Pua Kumbu), Cotton, Iban people — Ceremonial Textile (Pua Kumbu)
Iban people
probably 18th century

Mandau (sword) and sheath, Kenyah or Kayan artist, Steel, brass, wood, antler, bone, hair, trade cloth, fiber, Kenyah or Kayan peoples — Mandau (sword) and sheath
Kenyah or Kayan artist
late 19th–early 20th century

Ceremonial Cloth (Pua), Cotton, Borneo (Sarawak) — Ceremonial Cloth (Pua)
Borneo (Sarawak)
Mid-20th century

Ceremonial cloth, Cotton ikat dyed textile, Iban-Dayak — Ceremonial cloth
Iban-Dayak
19th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.