The origin of this intriguing textile is difficult to place. Some heirloom cloths (tali tau batu) of the Toraja people of Central Sulawesi feature sections of tapestry with a similar diamond lattice pattern. Yet, there is a probability this is a contemporary cloth.

 

Mosaic-like, this geometric pattern is constructed primarily of one simple unit: the square. This is systematically multiplied in different colour combinations to form larger motifs including the cross, the star, and the stepped diamond or rhomb. These are all ancient motifs, and common to tapestries across the world.

 

Cloth (cotton, woven tapestry), unknown island of origin

Kindly lent by Kadar and Anton Lucas