ref. 22127

cotton

Mid 20th century

Indonesia

Width: 155 cm
Height: 127 cm

Two myths describe the origin of the island of Timor. One tells the story of a boy who, during the Austronesian migrations crossed the oceans on the back of a crocodile. He failed in his quest for dry land as he was lured by the rays of the rising sun (Timor means "east" in Indonesian). To spare the boy's life, the crocodile petrified and metamorphosed into an island. The crocodile is a forefather, a symbol of the creator of all life, and is often depicted in Indonesian art.

A second legend comes from the south-east of the island and tells the story of a queen with magical powers. On her loom, she was weaving the sea with threads made of cottony plucks of clouds. Suddenly interrupted by a boisterous child. She tried to throw her shuttle at him, but missed the target. The shuttle fell into the sea and created a rip. From the woven sea emerged the island of Timor.

The island produced many different textiles. Seventy-nine species of plants from thirty-eight plant families are harvested by local artisans to clean, prepare, card, spin, dye and weave cotton into tais (skirts) or batik. Each community has its own patterns, but the dyes are mostly indigo blue and reddish-brown from the root of the morinda critifolia.

The wider range of designs and motifs in Timor is due to more intercultural exchanges. Silk was imported from China as early as the 13th century. Beeswax used to make batik and even slaves were exchanged for textiles.

 

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