1971 Antique Pua Kumbu Iban Ceremonial Ikat

Antique Iban Ceremonial Ikat Pua Kumbu 

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 - Kalimantan, Sabah & Sarawak, there is a sense of awe for the creators.

Further, textiles themselves were believed to have the power to connect to the spirit world. The motifs, the dyes and the complexity of the weaving - all factors that were a direct result of the weaver's skill and experience - contributed to the power held by a textile.

Only textiles with certain features could be used during the most important community ceremonies and the weavers of these therefore enjoyed an elevated status of prestige.

So to study an Iban textile, requires us to focus on patterns, motifs, complexity and lastly and equally importantly - the dyes. The process of dyeing enjoys a far greater role in the value chain of production of Iban textiles than it does in any other group of textiles.

74 X 47 cm

NOTES:

Note the black bands. Then note the little squares INSIDE these bands with alternating colors of black & red, with borders around each square! That level of detail is remarkable.

Note the woven figures in the edge borders. And finally the white border at the extreme edge which only expert weavers were allowed to do. 

Note the two black rectangles in the borders - I wonder if these mean something. 

When sold to me, it was described as a Lebur Api. I am unable to find definitive references to confirm or deny this claim. 

I've heard from experts who have studied Iban ikats for years that even a dedicated decade is not enough study to be able to 'read' the next pua that comes along. 

 CLICK TO SEE THE COMPLETE COLLECTION OF IKAT PUA KUMBU

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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