Man’s wrapper, hinggi

Man’s warp ikat wrapper, hinggi

Kaliuda, Sumba, Indonesia

mid 20th century

Size: 240 x 117 cm

Hinggi were made in pairs with one cloth wrapped around the loins and the other about the shoulders. Cloths were produced in prodigious quantities by women of the coastal districts in eastern Sumba. They were made mostly for the exchange of goods from the interior of the island where, by custom, the process of ikat was forbidden. The exchanges were of two kinds, for agricultural products and those within the context of bride giving and taking. The main source of this textile wealth was the noble class who alone could produce the vast stores necessary to dress their families and retainers, and meet the exchange commitment for important occasions. 

Provenance: The Donald Friend Collection, Australia