Indonesian Cotton Songket Sarong

Gold thread woven into red until the cloth glitters.

Weavers in Bali, Indonesia, made this songket sarong in cotton and gold thread in the 20th century. Songket is a supplementary-weft technique, with metallic threads floated over the ground, and it is commonly worn for ceremonies and special occasions in Bali. A burgundy field is patterned all over with a fine gold lattice, while a wide panel to one side carries diamond medallions in a column. A narrow patterned band edges the ends.

About 40 by 31 inches. It wears to a wedding, or hangs like a lit window.