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A highly unusual batik from North Java form the 19th century made for ceremonial use. It depicts mythological creatures surrounding the enthroned figure in a court with wild animals and servants, all in act of homage to this central figure.
Altar Cloth
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Altar Cloth

Maker Javanese
Date19th century (possibly older)
Place of originIndonesia
MediumCotton, natural pigments, thread
Dimensions20 1/4 x 59 1/4 in. (51.4 x 150.5 cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Norma Canelas Roth and William D. Roth
Object number2010.95.6
Collections
Visual DescriptionA highly unusual batik from North Java form the 19th century made for ceremonial use. It depicts mythological creatures surrounding the enthroned figure in a court with wild animals and servants, all in act of homage to this central figure.
A finely made cotton batik with organic designs printed using a resist dyeing technique and tulis batik overlay. Crochet borders in heavy gold work.
Batik Selendang (Indian influenced design)
Javanese
20th century
Cotton cloth with batik designs in orange, black and gold; printed patterns are off-register
Java batik cloth
Javanese
late 20th century
Cotton cloth with batik designs in green, black and red; printed patterns are off-register
Batik
Javanese
late 20th century
Black and white print of a banquet. Guests dine at a table under a colonnade while servants carry dishes up steps. Musicians play on a background balcony. A monkey sits in the foreground. At bottom French text reads: "Pour le mieux resjouir, au festin magnifique Que Son Pere luy fait, est iointe la musique. Cum privilege Reg. Israel excu"
The Prodigal Son
Jacques Callot
c. 1624
Seated figure on red throne attended by two servants, one with fan and other holding an image (possibly a calligraphy)
Playing Card
Indian Artist
18th century
Image Not Available for Mirror with Hunting Motif
Mirror with Hunting Motif
Chinese Artist
Tang Dynasty (618-907), 8th century
This embroidered hanging bears scenes of a gathering of immortals. The individuals are separated into four sections, each on a different level, with the top ones descending from the clouds, the second in a building, the third on a boat, and the fourth on the ground level.
Embroidered Hanging with Immortal Designs 刺繡群仙圖
Chinese Artist
late 18th-early 19th century
Primarily using a blue and gold color scheme, this women’s vest has a rank badge on both the front and the back. The other decorative motifs include auspicious symbols such as dragons, phoenix, clouds, and patterns of mountains and waves on the bottom. A row of multi-colored tassels is attached by metal beads and green latticework.
Women’s Vest (Xiapi) with Dragon Motifs, Rank Badge of Silver Pheasant, and Tassels清代漢官命婦霞披
Chinese Artist
late 19th-early 20th century
The Fengu blankets are similiar to those of the Xhosa. This one has the fur trim which the Fengu prefer as well as the older mother-of-pearl buttons. There is also the fine black wool embroidery work and the delicate use of the glass bead-work. The blanket would have been worn partially folded over by about one third the width. The origin is Mazizini.
Man's Blanket (Ingubo)
Zulu Artist
1850-1950
A long sleeve caftan/dress sewn from strips of wax print fabric likely Chinese imports and Woodin (a company that locally produces fabric in Ghana). The bodice of the caftan features horizontal strips, whereas the skirt of the dress relies on vertical strips. Each strip is formed from a mixture of long strips of fabric, interspersed with small squares of fabric. The caftan includes a designer label, which states: “Cloth on cloth designs by Tei Huagie, made in Ghana”.
"Cloth on Cloth" Caftan
Tei Mensah Huagie
2000
A basketball hoop in a community court is framed by vibrant colors of an orange overhead awning, surrounding adobe and pink buildings and a flawless blue sky.
Community Court, Real del Monte, Mexico
Bill Bamberger
2015; print date: 2023
Maroon wool cloth "Akunitan" w/ chief's seat, lion, lizard, porcupine, snake, elephant with gold, green, blue and white threads machine embroidered.
Cloth of the Great (akunitan)
Asante Artist
late 20th century

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