This gorgeous pillow, perfect for any home or style, is handwoven by the women weavers of Sumba, a remote island in eastern Indonesia.

For the Sumbanese, their weavings are not simply decorative but are cherished heirlooms, expressing the rites of passage in their lives, including birth, marriage and death.  The geometric patterns often suggest the clan, gender and ancestral affiliation of the weavers.

The Sumbanese value deeply saturated colors, achieved through repeated immersions in dye baths. The number and clarity of the finished hues reflect the exhaustive binding and unbinding of the threads using strips of palm frond to resist certain dyes. Dyes are made from Indigo leaves and the inner bark of the roots of the Kombu (Morinda Citrifolia) tree. Combinations of Indigo and Kombu, supplemented by various nuts and roots, complete the full range of color in all Sumba textiles.

The handwoven textile that is the central panel is woven from a continuous warp on a simple, backstrap loom. The tautness or laxness of the warp is controlled by the weaver’s body: women are literally tied to their yarns; their legs provide the tension of the warp, their backstraps secure them to the entire apparatus.

This very special piece of Indonesian "art" will have a treasured place in your home or will make the perfect housewarming gift for a special friend.

The Sumba Deer pillow fits a 21"x21" pillow insert (not included).  It is fully lined, with a zipper closure.

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