1809 Antique Figurative Dayak Kantuk Jacket Textile

A rare exceptional sungkit woven jacket with human motifs

In Dayak tradition, weavings are mediums to connect to the spirit world and in this weaving the strong motifs suggest high potency.

This belongs to the  Dayak subgroup from Kantuk (which is different from other subgroups such as Iban, Sberuang, Selakau, Behe Ahe and the Kendayan).

While their dialect and arts are similar, they are unique and distinct from one another.

Compared to other dayak jackets this is jacket is more finely woven as the number of motifs per square foot is much higher and the size of the motifs is smaller.

The powerful dragon-serpent motif is the main motif on the back - making this an important textile. Bird, turtle, lizard? and stylised human motifs all over. 

It has the potential to be mounted and framed with the front and back separated and placed one below the other - against a dark green or midnight blue background.

Estimated to be from the early 1900s

This masterpiece has extensive damage and must be viewed as a fragment.

More photos of the shortcomings available on request.

***

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.

***