Sarongs such as this one were produced by mixed indigenous Chinese or European communities along the northern coast of Java. They would normally have been worn with a short tunic known as a ‘kebaya’. It features a large floral bouquet in the ‘kepala’ (‘central panel’), while the rest of the ‘badan’ (‘body’) is decorated with diagonal stripes with floral motifs. While some of these cloths are known for their bright and gaily coloured designs, the muted browns and blues of this cloth suggest that it might have been worn during the mourning period.
