Tewuni Rai Savu - Man hipcloth (selimut) hi’i wo mèdi, huri wopidu

Description:

Name of the textile: Man hipcloth (selimut) hi’i wo mèdi, huri wopidu.

Hi’i womèdi means that the ikat bands of motifs
have been dyed in indigo only which confers an
elegant look to the cloth. An odd number of main
bands of motifs, here seven, and two asymmetrical
parts (with respectively four and three bands of main motifs)
are in accordance with local cultural principles so that the cloth
can be used for important life crisis ceremonies and rituals.
The serpentine-like motif, keware, is a prerogative of
the maternal line wini Jèwu. A traditional identifier
of textiles of the Lesser Blossom group is an undulating,
serpentine-like motif. The second and smaller motif, boda,
in the main band is here a filling motif and is not important
for identification. Motifs in the small bands combine
a serpentine-like motif and an angular motif, wohèpi
te bolo with closed ends.
The cloth combines the work of Ina Ga Dule (77 years old)
and her granddaughter Ice Tede Dara. Ina Ga Dule is too
old and too weak to weave. However she still can spin cotton
contributing to the household income, and performs indigo dye.
She is well known for the quality of her indigo, almost black.
The cloth was completed in 2019.

Weaver: Ice Tede Dara.

Moiety: Lesser Blossom (hubi iki)

Maternal lineage: wini Jèwu

Main motifs: keware and boda.

Ikat process: Ice Tede Dara

Indigo dye process: Ina Ga Dule

Morinda and curcuma dye process: Ice Tede Dara 

Material: handspun cotton (benang kapas) It takes 2 years to spin enough tight cotton for such cloths. 

Natural dyes: indigo (nila), morinda (mengkudu), curcuma (kunyit)

Dimensions: L 170cm(warp)

                      l 89cm (weft)

Color : blue-black, red and yellow