Pouch for a Sacred Book

Woven Textile

Tracing Patterns Foundation

Name/Title

Pouch for a Sacred Book

Entry/Object ID

2022.11.2

Description

The small book made of wooden pages is said to be a sacred manual used by a priest in Batak, Sumatra. The book is kept in a basketwork pouch, decorated with cotton embroidery.

Acquisition

Accession

2022.11

Source or Donor

Thomas Murray

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Thomas Murray

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Country

Indonesia

Island

Sumatra

Culture/Tribe

Batak

Dimensions

Width

12.7 cm

Length

16.8 cm

Material

Wood, Palm leave, Cotton

Condition

Overall Condition

Colors appear to have faded. Broken threads on the RH edge when viewed with folded edge on top. Very stiff and rigid, with the fold difficult to open. Hole in the RH side where the fold meets the edge. Remnants of a clothes moth cocoon under fold but no evidence of active infestation. No tassel on the lower RH corner (lost?)