1928 Old Toraja Ceremonial Headcloth Tali Tau Batu Fragment Group

An enigmatic set of fragments of a Mbesa Tali Tau Batu

 A ceremonial headcloth from North Luwu, Toraja, Sulawesi, indonesia.

Thick coarse cloth woven in a unique manner ...that I have not seen before. Close-ups provided for better understanding. 

The technique involves weaving first and then resist-binding and dyeing.

Collected on a field visit to Toraja, Sulawesi. 

This group of fragments has been saved from a fire - therefore has burn marks present. Holes and stains. Edges not even. This fragment is one of several sections that have been saved from the same fire-struck cloth.

A set of 9 (pus a small piece) are offered in this listing. 

The size of a typical piece is 23 x 17 cm with some smaller ones. 

Age unknown but likely to be old.

Appears to have been unused as some threads from the crafting process are still attached to one of the fragments

More examples of this type of textile can be found in Thomas Murray's book Textiles of Indonesia that has 10 pages AND the cover devoted to this fabulous group of textiles. 

Examples may also be found in Tropenmuseum Netherlands. 

Yale University Art Gallery: LINK

Met Museum: Link 

Such pieces are no longer made and Murray states that the people at the source seemed to have forgotten that such textiles were once made in that area. 

Superb study-sample. 

Frame it and add it to your home-museum collection.