Antique Batak Ulos Ragidup Ceremonial Shoulder Cloth from Sumatra in beautiful indigo.

Very beautiful indigo blue antique Batak ritual cloth, or ulos ragidup, from the early 20th century in Sumatra, Indonesia out of cotton.

Measures approximately 39 x 68"

The Batak people live in the highland of Sumatra, a large and relatively sparsely populated island of Indonesia. Nowadays mostly Christian with a Muslim minority, Batak artists incorporate elements of their indigenous religions into their ceremonial textiles.

The ulos ragidup is one of the most important of Toba Batak textiles. Woven in three section and sewn together lengthwise, the center panel is further comprised of three sections, an ikat center and two ends decorated with fine weft patterns, while the side panels are solid dark brown within decorative borders.

In excellent condition.

Would be fantastic as a textile over a sofa, etc, or used to make unique pillows.

I bought this piece in Kabul, Afghanistan, which just shows how the world of the textile trade turns.