Holding On Golden Threads

As trade flourished in the region, many traders and craftsmen alike has grown a sum of wealth. More royal families and tradesmen establishes their place in society through showing what they can afford. Lavish attire would be one of them. 

Cloth like Kain Limar Songket were highly treasured. Usually used as part of traditional dress as a shoulder cloth or wrapped around the torso.

In batik with perada technique, a regular batik would be adorned with perada technique. The golden colors may come from powder, paste or paper. The golden colors would be manually and carefully applied on top of the batik motifs. 

Since 16th century, textiles known to be commodity in trade in Aceh. Hah is standard measurement in Aceh. One hah is length from elbow to tip of one's finger. This piece of cloth is dublah (a dozen) hah.

Aceh textiles are known to produce darker colors textiles such as, dark purple, deep red, black and dark blue. 
With similar songket technique, the cloth are weaved with metallic color thread. Its motifs are mostly geometric due to Arabic influence. 

Ija dublah hah would be worn by brides as part of their wedding attire. 

Golden threads application on textiles would also in many cases to adorn furnitures during celebration. This embroidered cloth was used to adorn a bench of bride and groom in a wedding.

The intricate embroidery will also be embelished by golden leafs. 

This piece of cloth was used to adorn trays for ceremonial food and spices during a wedding. 

This piece of cloth is made in 1930s woven in songket technique. The entire woven cloth is adorned by supplementary golden thread weft. 

Diamond shapes are commonly used motifs in West Sumatra woven cloths. The shapes refers to locally used tobacco box. This excquisite cloth would traditionally passed down as family heirloom and worn in weddings.

The adornment would not just stop on a shoulder cloth and waist wraps. This piece of waist cloth would be completed along with a plangi a magnificent golden headpiece and golden jewelleries.