Ceremonial textile (tampan) with five registers of designs

Indonesia’s long history of maritime trade and the immense wealth that it brought are embodied in the remarkable textiles of the Lampung region of southern Sumatra. Lampung is situated on the western side of the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Suatra and has been a vital trade route since ancient times. The region is known for its black pepper, which historically was highly valued in the spice trade and is still produced there today. The cosmopolitan influences resulting from Lampung’s strategic location are evident in its ritual textiles. The two most abundant types are tampan and palepai which incorporate imagery that predominantly depicts stylized ships, outside Indonesia, these are often referred to collectively as ‘ship’s cloths’.

This finely executed tampan features bold and highly graphic designs in rich colors with a highly imaginative interpretation of the ship vessel iconography typical of the genre. A large red vessel anchors the imagery at center with raised ends that represent the prow and stern at fore and aft, ending in scroll-like details. These straight bands with upturned ends are echoed in the surrounding area outside the vessel in a series of alternate red and black strips that create a sense of dynamism and movement, as if the vessel is slicing its way through choppy waters leaving a wave of ripples in its wake. Below deck are two pairs of fantastical creatures, smaller versions of the large creature that dominates the deck. Above three smaller vessels float, as if in the distance, creating a vividly animated scene.