This hand made Indonesian textile is a beautiful example of the power of tradition. This sacred cloth known as a geringsing literally means “to protect from evil”. According to legend, the geringsing was given to the tiny village of Tenganan as a gift from the god Indra. The villagers received the technique and patterns used in this textile as a way for them to protect their territorial, physical and spiritual purity. To this day, the villagers of Tenganan see the geringsing as an extremely powerful cloth. They use it to protect them from illness, to heal those that are sick and as a centerpiece of important spiritual events including burials and tooth filing ceremonies. Description This geringsing is entirely hand crafted. It is made of hand spun cotton and has been dyed with natural dyes. It has passed though many hands in its’ crafting, and has required hundreds of hours of labour. It is a truly hand crafted, community based artwork. The motif in this particular gerinsing is a combination of two separate motifs, one called lubeng, and the other called tali danan. The most prominent motif, sitting at the center of the weaving is the lubeng. According to the villagers, the pattern in the lubeng represents their village. The four pointed star is a representation of the center of the village. It is a complex motif that uses strong patterns, and is revered as one of the most powerful geringsing motifs made. On the edges is the tali danan motif, a pattern of strung flowers. This geringsing is of excellent quality. Its threads are of even thickness and are evenly spread. The three colours are strong and consistent. Most importantly, the lines are sharp and the patterns are crisp. It is an excellent example of geringsing. This particular geringsing is 9 inches wide (23 cm) and 48 inches in length (122 cm). This geringsing cannot currently be hung at its full length because it is “uncut”. This means that it has been taken off the loom as a continuous loop. Villagers deem these uncut weaving to be more powerful and it is only these weavings that can be used in burial ceremonies or adorn religious icons. Many collectors prefer the weavings in their uncut state because they are rarer. But it is very simple to cut the warp so that the weaving can hang at its full length. The purchase of this ikat includes a mahogany skewer on which to hang it on. This geringsing is a fantastic symbol of protection. With the lubeng motif at its center, this particular geringsing can be used to reflect the artist’s desire for protection at home. It is an amazing spiritual symbol and a stunning work of art. It is a perfect gift for anyone who appreciates art with a special message. Click here for more information on Indonesian double ikats Price: US$200.00     Quantity: