Product Description

Kalimantan Dayak Blanket

Material: Cotton
Style: Kalimantan, Indonesia
Size: Length 203 cm, Width 102 cm
Order Number: MHSKD1

Borneo is the 3rd largest island in the world. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it was divided between the colonial powers of Britain (the northern half) and the Dutch (the southern 2/3rds) until Independence was declared in 1945.

Borneo’s women wove the textiles. The island’s indigenous people, the Dayak, comprise about 20 cultural groups, and compete for prestige. They arrived about 40,000 years ago.

Most Dayaks live in longhouses on raised pilings under a single roof, which protect them from rivers flooding, animals and enemy attacks.

Warfare was widespread and a Dayak man’s status was measured by his ability in war and headhunting. Enemy heads were believed to rejuvenate agricultural land and human fertility.

Borneo’s textiles are amongst the most unique and fascinating in the world. Most Dayak textiles were worn during ceremonies – skirts, headgear, loincloths, vests and jackets.

The Iban are the largest and most artistically influential group producing striking, sacred textiles, which were typically deep red made from morinda citrofolia roots. They created large cloths called pua, which means ‘blanket’ or ‘covering’ .

Pua were worn, displayed and used in all major ceremonies and festivals, called gwai. They showed the weavers’ skill and attracted the gods by their beauty.

They were hung up to create temporary sacred spaces and give protection. Before going to war men slept in a pua. After a successful raid, women waited for their men at the longhouse entrance holding pua to receive the heads.

Early 20th century.

Map of Kalimantan.

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