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Amy Wassing

SARASA KEPALA TEXTILE – Block-printed in India for the Indonesian market (possibly Toraja, Sulawesi) – ca. 1865-1890

Description:

This exceptional piece, is a rare square kepala cloth, made from fine cotton and hand block-printed with natural red and indigo dyes. It was produced along the Coromandel Coast of India around 1865, specifically for export to the Indonesian archipelago — particularly Sulawesi — where such textiles were worn by the Toraja people in ceremonial, marital, and high-status contexts.
The design features a refined composition of floral medallions and geometric rosettes arranged in harmonious symmetry, framed by a decorative border. Its layout reflects Mughal artistic heritage, adapted to meet the refined tastes of Southeast Asian patrons. The printing technique, known as chhapa, involved the careful application of hand-carved woodblocks dipped in dye, making each piece one-of-a-kind.
Similar textiles are preserved in major museum collections such as the Kyushu National Museum (Japan) and the Textile Research Centre in Leiden (Netherlands). The historical trade routes, technical mastery, and cultural crosscurrents embedded in this textile render it a valuable and collectible artwork.


Dimensions: 88 x 85 cm (34.6 x 33.5 inches)

Weight: 89 g (3.14 oz)
Condition: Very good – discreet 2 x 3 cm restoration barely visible
Provenance: Private Collection. This piece has been preserved for generations 

Cotton, Silk - Indonesia - 1850-1900

Textile  - 88 cm - 85 cm - SARASA KEPALA BATIK

Southeast Asian, Oceanic & American Art

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Textile - 88 cm - 85 cm - SARASA KEPALA BATIK

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