Woman's sarong (Lipa) or skirt cloth woven in cotton, Makassar, Indonesia, 18th century

Woman's sarong (Lipa) or skirt cloth woven in white, yellow, green, pink and black cotton on a red cotton ground. Woven on a hand-loom (kain lurih). The design of the field consists of alternate white and yellow stripes. At one end is a wide kapala with the 'tumpal' ornament of two opposed rows of triangular 'teeth' interspersed with small squares for stars. The borders of the kapala have wide and narrow bands of contingent diamonds in yellow, white, green and pink.

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.288-1921