‏ Detail of a ceremonial cloth with palampore design

Trade textiles were found in Indonesia as early as 13th century and were collected by the Toraja family in south central Sulawesi region. They were produced in Gujarat in the western part of India. Often block printed and resist dyed in bold colors, these textiles were used for ceremonies.

The present example is a cloth which comprises of two panels, a common feature of textiles exported to Indonesia. A serpetine tree in red and brown dyes emerges from the rocky mountain. Surrounded by imaginary floral motifs, the palampore like design contains many design elements.