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