Indonesian Songket Shoulder Cloth

Wine-red, with a few dark diamonds spaced like seals on a letter.

This songket shoulder cloth was woven in Sumatra, Indonesia, in cotton and gold thread in the 20th century. Songket cloths are commonly worn on formal and ceremonial occasions, often draped over the shoulder. The long red field carries a few dark diamond motifs at intervals down the center. Short fringe ends the cloth at both sides. The red is rich and slightly mottled, with subtle gold glints in the weave.

About sixty-five by twenty-two inches. A narrow strip of color that can do a lot of work.