Mingnankabau Songket Shoulder Cloth

This gold thread Songket looks great as a coffee table runner.  Currently it sits handsomely in my display cabinet of miniature old Singapore food stalls.

This silk shoulder cloth or runner is brocaded with gold, and finished with gold metallic bobbin lace.  12"x 48." The continuous supplementary-weft technique makes the piece reversible, and either face may be used as the front.

• Name: Minangkabau ceremonial woman head cloth or shoulder  cloth (tengkuluak).
• Origin:  Minangkabau people, West Sumatra Indonesia.
• Dimension: size 77" or 195 cm x 18" or 46 cm.
• Material: Silk, gold threat, silver threat, supplementary weft weave

This runner from Pandai Sikek could have been used for either a shoulder cloth or as part of the magnificent horned headwrap worn by Minangkabau women for ceremonial occasions. Its handsome khaki silk background is almost completely covered by gold-wrapped songket designs. Metallic bobbin lace has been added to the top and bottom edges. The metal used in this piece is a soft, pale gold color and not shiny; overall the effect is rich, subtle and elegant