Man’s shoulder or hip cloth (hinggi)
This remarkable hinggi is in pristine condition and features intricately woven designs finely executed in five distinct colors. These cover the entire surface of the textile which is fringed by a multi-colored fringe at each end. The vivid designs are evenly balanced with the various bands organized symmetrically around a single band at the center, creating three principle sections, each bordered by a strip featuring animated creatures on four legs that are an amalgam of distinct species – snaggle-toothed dragons with uplifted tails and the horns of deers. These powerful mythological creatures are interspersed with blue snake-like creatures or serpents. Two broad bands at each end of the cloth feature dramatic and highly innovative designs each incorporating four lobsters with flat tails, long antenna and textured spiny backs separated from each other with alternating skull tree (andang) motifs.
Artwork Details
- Title: Man’s shoulder or hip cloth (hinggi)
- Date: late 19th–early 20th century
- Geography: Indonesia, Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara
- Culture: Sumba Island artist
- Medium: Cotton, natural dyes
- Dimensions: Including fringes: W. 50 in. × L. 8 ft. 5 in. (127 × 256.5 cm)
- Classification: Textiles-Costumes
- Credit Line: Gift of Eric Moskal, 2021
- Object Number: 2021.439.4
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Sumba Island artist
19th century
Sumba Island artist
19th century
Sumba Island artist
19th century
Ngada artist
late 19th–early 20th century
Sumba Island
ca. 1910
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.