This cotton ikat hinggi, a traditional man's mantle, originates from Sumba, Indonesia, during the mid-20th century. Following centuries-old practice, the textile is constructed from two separately woven sections that have been meticulously hand-stitched together along a vertical center seam. Measuring approximately 93 inches by 49 inches (236 cm x 124 cm), this large-scale garment was traditionally worn by high-ranking men as part of a matched pair, draped over the shoulder and wrapped around the hips.

The composition is characterized by horizontal bands featuring bold, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic motifs typical of East Sumba iconography. The primary bands depict large, seated human figures—likely representing ancestors or local deities—rendered in a striking palette of cream and rust-red against a deep indigo-black ground. These figures are flanked by smaller zoomorphic motifs, including birds and deer, which serve as symbols of status and the spiritual world. The natural dyes used to achieve these rich tones—indigo for the dark fields and kombu for the rust-reds—remain vivid, and the piece is in excellent condition.

‍