Art Institute of Chicago

Ceremonial Textile (Tampan)

Paminggir people

Date

Late 19th century

Medium

Four panels joined; cotton, gilt-metal strip, silvered-paper-strip wrapped silk, plain weave with supplementary patterning and brocading wefts; stitched together with pineapple fiber

Culture

Indonesia

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Ceremonial textiles like this one—called tampan —were used in rites of passage and as wrappings for ritual gift exchanges. The images of ships that appear on these fabrics were considered symbolic of transitions, evoking vessels that ensured safe conduct from one phase of life to the next. This example features depictions of a European ship, rather than one that would have been used in the region; the reason for this unusual choice is unknown.

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