Ceremonial Textile (Tampan)
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
Dimensions
75.2 × 240.7 cm (29 5/8 × 94 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
180292
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
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.