Woman’s Tube Skirt (Lau Pahudu)

Lau pahudu refers to a tubular skirt with supplementary warp patterning in the lower panel, which is a ceremonial dress for women in Sumba island. It is worn either skirt-like with the top folded out at an appropriate length, or covering the whole body with the top gathered around the chest and held in place under the left arm.
Title: Woman’s Tube Skirt (Lau Pahudu)
Artist: Unknown
Creation Date: Before 1900
Geography: Indonesia, Sumba
Culture: Sumbanese
Medium: Cotton, natural dyes
Technique: Plain weave, tie-resist dyed warp (warp ikat), supplementary warp patterning
Dimensions: 124 x 174 cm (48 7/8 x 68 1/2 in)
Classification: Textiles
Credit Line: Gift of Helena Hernmarck in memory of Mary Kahlenberg, 2022
Object ID Number: 2022.12.KT679