| Abstrakt: |
Abstract:The contribution discusses a representative selection of the Indonesian textiles collected by Lloyd Cotsen, which are now part of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum, and considers them through a historical perspective. Some early radiocarbon dated pieces provide essential evidence that can be reinforced by similar results from collections elsewhere. This provides the chronological framework. Written sources are used as much as possible to add to the historical context. Connections between different Indonesian island cultures, referred to in early documents and oral histories, are also explored to broaden the geographic perspectives. The rich literature on Southeast Asian textiles, developed over the previous three decades, will be a constant and significant reference point, but the essay attempts to move beyond previous research by attempting a deeper historical view. |
