Indonesian Textiles at the Yale University Art Gallery

Indonesian Textiles at the Yale University Art Gallery is a free, born-digital publication that catalogues the museum’s remarkable collection of approximately 1,200 textiles from maritime Southeast Asia—from the batik textiles of Java to the ikat of Sumba, from ceremonial cloths and ritual weavings to clothing, shrouds, and architectural hangings. Released concurrent with the related exhibition, Nusantara: Six Centuries of Indonesian Textiles, held at the Yale University Art Gallery from September 12, 2025, through January 11, 2026, this digital catalogue begins with an introduction that discusses the geography and cultures of Indonesia as well as the history of weaving, materials and techniques, and the cultural meanings of textiles. Catalogue entries are organized by geographic area, with each region introduced by a brief overview. Entries provide full cataloguing data, new photography, and short descriptions of the objects. An appendix of scientific research findings rounds out this important study, which foregrounds exciting new evidence of interisland connections discovered by the authors during their analysis of these complex and culturally significant works. Nearly three hundred textiles are now available for study, and catalogue entries continue to be added as research is completed.