Floral motifs worked in silver supplementary weft, known as ‘songket’ decorate this shoulder cloth, which has an appliqué of yellow cloth in the centre. Although the art of songket weaving is practised across the Malay world, the Minangkabau are especially well known for both the quality of their songket as well as the high importance which they place on such textiles. Songket was a symbol of status and traditionally reserved for aristocrats in Minangkabau society. It was used during ceremonial occasions and weddings.
