Ceremonial Shoulder Cloth (Salendang) or Head Cloth (Tangkuluak)

early 19th century

Minangkabau, Sumatran

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About the Artwork

The intricate silk and gold patterns of this garment, worn draped across the shoulders or folded into an elaborate headdress, displayed both the wealth and ideals of its owner.

The designs on each end symbolize Minangkabau cultural values, such as fairness, community, and integrity. Look for the diamond shapes in wavy ovals: they represent split peanuts, divided equally. Narrower bands of interlocking lines in a zigzag shape represent the strength of a society whose members act for the common good.

As a shoulder cloth, or salendang, this garment may have been worn by a woman or a man. As a headdress, or tangkuluak, it most likely would have been worn by a woman. The silver leaf pendants on the ends are later additions — perhaps attached for the occasion of a specific ceremony.

Title Ceremonial Shoulder Cloth (Salendang) or Head Cloth (Tangkuluak)

Artwork Date early 19th century

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. Sumatran

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Minangkabau

Medium Cotton, silk, gold thread, silver

Dimensions Overall: 29 1/4 × 109 inches (74.3 × 276.9 cm)

Classification Textiles

Department Asian Art

Credit Gift of Janis B. Wetsman

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 2019.58

Markings

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Provenance

(Wan nan Jari, Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia);
1997, purchased by Janis Wetsman (Birmingham, Michigan, USA);
2019-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

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Published References

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We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Minangkabau, Sumatran, Ceremonial Shoulder Cloth (Salendang) or Head Cloth (Tangkuluak), early 19th century, cotton, silk, gold thread, silver. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Janis B. Wetsman, 2019.58.