Ulos Batak

Basic Information

• Artifact Identification : Ulos, Ceremonial Textile
• Visual Description : Cream-colored textile with black and red-brown patterned stripes and tassles at top and bottom. Stripes are either black or red and are made up of geometric patterned elements, primarily triangular.
• Artist/Maker: None
• Geographic Location : Asia, Southeast, Sumatra, Lake Toba, Prapat
• Period/Date , Ca.: 1970’s
• Culture : Batak, Probably Toba Batak

Physical Analysis

• Dimension: 1 (Length) 133 cm
• Dimension: 2 (Width) 50 cm
• Dimension: 3 (N/A) N/A
• Weight : 152 g
• Measuring Remarks : Length includes tassles at both ends.
• Materials : Textile
• Manufacturing Processes : Weaving
• Munsell Color Information : N/A

Research Remarks

• Published Description : N/A
• Scholarly Notes : Prapat is a primarily Toba Batak area. This textile is definately Batak and probably Toba Batak culture. this is an ‘ulos’ a textile used as a ceremonial gift for weddings and funerals. We have some examples in the teaching collection. Clark Cunningham, 2003.
• Comparanda : N/A
• Bibliography : N/A

Artifact History

• Archaeological Data : N/A
• Credit Line/Dedication : Gift of Ellen Cole Miller.
• Reproduction : N/A
• Reproduction Information : N/A