Flores Ikat

While in Sumba traditionally ikat was only used for special ceremonies and only by members of the highest clans and their personal attendants, in Flores ikat pieces are widely distributed and employed by a large portion of the population for everyday use.

Each Indonesian weaving tradition has its distinct color preferences and patterns; throughout Flores, warp threads are dyed with indigo, red, and a distinctive yellow made from cudrania wood. Mainly botanical dyes are used and the threads are woven on a backstrap loom as elsewhere in the archipelago. As with pua kumbu and Sumba ikat, each piece is a labor of personal and ceremonial significance from women who master the exacting process. Motifs and patterns are handed down through the generations within families and weaving lineages, though personal expression is still valued. Along with the geometric designs featured in this example, which is probably from the Lamaholot people of the Maumere area, distinctive motifs found in Flores include lizards, serpents and intricate floral patterns that reflect the natural and supernatural environments of the island.