Man's belt ikat woven with silk and cotton, Bali, Indonesia, 19th century.

Man's belt ikat woven with a silk weft and cotton warp. The cotton warp is red and the silk weft is dyed white, yellow, green, and purple. The horizontal pattern consists of pairs of confronted Wayang figures each with an elaborate scorpion-like headdress and multi-coloured loin cloth. The flesh of the body, arms and legs is white. In the spaces between these figures are butterflies and geometrical motives. Along the upper and lower edges are bands of 'battlement' ornament in white and brown. The ground is red.

Given by Sir M.E. Sadler C.B., K.C.S.I. through the National Art Collections Fund

Note in the acquisiton register, "In a letter dated 27th June, 1921, Sir Michael Sadler wrote to Mr. Kendrick, Keeper of Textiles, as follows: "..I wonder whether you would care to have the Javanese Batiks and the Malayan warp-dyed fabrics as a gift to the Museum through the National Art Collections Fund? They were all collected by a Dutch lady for a Dutch Museum. But, owing to the war, she was marooned in Calcutta and I got the collection."

Given by Sir M.E. Sadler C.B., K.C.S.I. through the National Art Collections Fund . This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

R.P. 1921-4313

IM.282-1921