Antique Iban Ceremonial Ikat Pua Kumbu

Quite likely the Buah Lang Ngerembang Pattern

Among the Iban, textiles are treasured as they are more than just objects made of fibre.

In some cultures, such as the Iban, textiles have played a major, if not central role, in all the ceremonies surrounding the important events in life. Power structures among women are based on dyeing and weaving skills. Perhaps the most important materials owned by families were textiles.

Ikat textiles are among the hardest to make, as the tie-dye is done on the unwoven threads before they are woven into cloth. So with a design in the weaver's imagination, the thread is dyed in sections as per the pattern that is required to be created. This takes immense precision and calculation. So when we note that these textiles were made decades ago in the rainforests of Borneo & Sarawak, there is a sense of awe for the creators.

Size: 226 x 119 cm

MY NOTES ON THIS IKAT:

•  This Ikat is very similar to the textile titled 'Buah Lang Ngerembang' or Hawk pattern - Fig 185 in the book Iban Ritual Textiles by Traude Gavin
•  Note the two rows of Hawk pattern motifs that are mirror images of each other
  
• Note the use of whirlpool pattern Buah Gumbbang Besimpan at the top and bottom ends
• I have been unable to find names of the motif on the central panel
  
• Note the use of blue
• Note the perfectly done oblique / diagonal lines
• Note the many horizontal band seen all across the field of the textile. See also the horizontal bands at the top and the bottom of the textile. Such bands are hard to create in ikat weaving and is a sign of mastery of the craft.
• Has a white stripe at the outer edge. Only a weaver of the highest grade was allowed to add such a stripe (see last photo from a book)

This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.

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