Woman's Ceremonial Skirt (tapis) c. 18th century

This is a tapis, or ceremonial skirt, created by Paminggir women, the indigenous group of Lampung, South Sumatra, Indonesia. These textiles are handwoven with supplementary weft and embroidery using cotton and silk. Tapis skirts are visual narratives, mapping the social terrain of Paminggir women. They are worn at pivotal life-cycle events, such as weddings and coming-of-age ceremonies, as well as community festivals. The motifs woven into the tapis are abstract representations of ancestral connections and the natural world. Passed down through generations, the creation and wearing of the tapis embodies the transmission of cultural knowledge and identity. These textiles are not static artifacts but are living, breathing expressions of Paminggir women’s collective identity. As such, the tapis is more than an object; it is a testament to the endurance, resilience, and beauty of Paminggir culture.