Kesrowan c. mid 20th century

This is a Kesrowan, a hand-woven textile made in the Southeast Asian region of Tana Toraja. The Tana Toraja region is an enclave of indigenous culture in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, where textiles take on profound social significance. The Kesrowan is used as a garment in ritual contexts or as a family heirloom. It’s also given as a gift or used in ceremonial exchanges. This example would have been made by women using a back-tension loom. The motifs here are abstract, but some Kesrowan cloths feature representations of animals, people, or plants associated with status and wealth. Textiles have long been used as a form of social commentary, as well as a medium for cultural expression. By studying the designs, materials, and techniques used in this Kesrowan, we can better understand the social and cultural dynamics of Tana Toraja society. Museum collections, ethnographic studies, and historical records can offer valuable insights into the social function of these textiles.