Skirt

Sarong with metallic threads (tembe sonke). Before WWII Bima was famous for its songket (Bimanese sonke), or weaving with metallic supplementary thread. Traditionally, among Dou Donggo, songket material was worn only when attending functions in the Sultan's palace. This example is a pure cotton sarong, locally dyed but probably of machine-manufactured thread. Gold thread probably of off-island manufacture. Made ca. 1935. Bought and probably made in Sila. Black plaid on red. Back panel darker, with gold supplementary weft pattern, in alternating broad and narrow vertical stripes.