DETAILS:

The Marapu II accent pillow is made of an extraordinary and superbly woven textile from the island of Sumba, Indonesia. The mythical figure of Marapu, as depicted in this pillow, is the first deified ancestor whose protection is invaluable to the people of Sumba. This one-of-a-kind sturdy and decorative pillow will be the focal point of any room, whether nestled in a chair or used as a floor cushion.

• 23” x 23”

• Front – cotton

• Back – linen, in black

• Zipper closure

• Polyester insert

• Fabric origin: Indonesia

THE STORY:

In the early 1990s, I traveled to Indonesia and fell in love with ikat. The majority of Indonesian ikat in my collection are pieces that I bought in Ubud, Bali, and hand-carried back with me. Most pieces were made on the island of Java, but the Sumba ikat is special. The Sumbanese weavers always tell a story through their ikat designs. They are boldly graphic and rich in anthropomorphic figures and recognizable animal figures. The imagery is taken from the island’s belief system, customs, natural surroundings and daily life. It is traditional to only use vegetable or natural dyes. Most dyes are made from the outer bark of the roots of the morinda tree, otherwise known as Indian Mulberry or Noni. It is a very labor intensive process to achieve colors.

The Sumbanese weavers are truly master craftsmen in the ikat technique. This incredible textile treasure was among my first collection of Indonesian textiles.