Man's mantle

This textile was patterned using the ‘warp ikat’ technique, where the vertical threads are tied and dyed before the fabric is woven. The side panels with red, yellow and white stripes flank a central panel which might possibly be the tree-of-life motif. Timor textiles are known for the bright and bold colours. In some areas of Timor, the colour red is associated with headhunting, war, victory and courage.