Songket, 1

Textiles are "talking testimonies" of mythology, identity, prosperity, and way of life. Settlers, traders, and conquerors came to Indonesia from all over the world, bringing with them a variety of ethnicities, languages, religions, and cultures. The Harms collection of songkets--Indonesian hand-woven, intricately-patterned brocade of silk or cotton--have many stories to tell. There are the splendid, prestigious cloths to be worn at court, family heirlooms depicting ancient codes of conduct, ritual cloths with magic powers attributed to them and, not least, fashionable dress. All the items show outstanding craftsmanship and are still of great significance, particularly for ceremonial occasions. Haio Harms traces the stories of the cloths and their background, seeking to convey something of the charm of these superb textiles.