Food-Offering Cover (Tutup Makan), ILE2006.4.313

Title Food-Offering Cover (Tutup Makan)
Culture Padang Ratu, Lampung
Geography Sumatra, Indonesia
Date 19th century
Medium Cotton, silver thread with a ramie core, and mica; balanced plain weave and embroidery
Dimensions 25 3/16 × 24 13/16 in. (64 × 63 cm)
Credit Line Robert J. Holmgren and Anita E. Spertus Collection, Promised gift of Thomas Jaffe, B.A. 1971
Inv. No. ILE2006.4.313
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The ground fabric of this food-offering cover is red commercial cloth, with a backing of white commercial cloth. The embroidery is couched silver thread with a ramie core. The square cloth is divided into four quarters, with a small square at the center and four stylized flowering trees emerging from its corners. The four outer corners each show a stylized human figure. Two large and two small birds occupy each border. —RB