Page 149 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art September 2013
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A ceremonial shoulder cloth (salat nanas) A silver repoussé bowl with scenes from the Ramakien
Komering, Southern Sumatra, late 19th century Thailand, Rattanakosin Period, 19th century
Silk ikat and wrapped gold thread supplementary weft; Ikated badan With theppanom in foliate ogival niches in low relief alternating with
(central field) with five columns of floral motifs and end panels of stylized scenes from the Ramakien such as Hanuman courting the mermaid
trees and rosettes in benang mas (gold thread) songket. Supanmacha and his combat with the demon Tasakanth; a hallmark
75 1/2 x 29 in. (191.8 x 73.6 cm) in Thai underneath in identifying the producer “Thada” and the count
$2,000 - 3,000 “100% silver, 100 baht weight”.
11 in. (30cm) diameter
Sumatra produces three types of cloth: batik in Palembang and Jambi, $1,000 - 1,500
dye-resist ikat on a backstrap loom, and songket, a discontinuous
supplementary-weft technique which often incorporates metallic threads These impressively rendered scenes derive from the wall murals of Wat
of silver or gold into the weave. The dye-resist and supplementary-weft Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) in Bangkok, completed in
ikat techniques, as found in the present lot, are associated with areas 1784. Coopted from the Ramayana, the Ramakien is Thailand’s national
such as Batakland or Lampung where ancient peoples first migrated to epic and the kings of the Chakri dynasty (1782–present) are considered
Sumatra. The Neolithic and Dongson-style patterns reflect the limited avatars of Vishnu, adopting Rama’s name.
contact of these with later cultural influences such as Islam.
Provenance:
Compare to examples in Majlis, Wege zu Goettern und Ahnen, figs 110, 114 Private Pittsburgh Collection, documented to 10 August 2007
& 116, and Gittinger, Splendid Symbols, fig. 65. The present piece is very
similar to National Gallery of Australia NGA2000.808, also to NGA2000.904
and NGA2000.870, and Boston Museum of Fine Arts, nr. 30.821.
Provenance:
Private Collection, California
Acquired from John Ruddy
Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art | 147
