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Title

Loincloth

20th century

Artists

Unknown Artist

Alternate image of Loincloth by
Alternate image of Loincloth by

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    Attapeu province → Laos
    Cultural origin
    Katu (Cotu) people
    Date
    20th century
    Media category
    Textile
    Materials used
    cotton, natural dyes, including indigo, and white glass beads
    Dimensions
    452.0 x 31.5 cm
    Credit
    Gift of John Yu, in memory of George Soutter 2012. Donated through the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Program.
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    83.2012
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    The Katu live in the highlands of central Vietnam and southern Laos. Such loincloths are worn by men. The cloths are made of cotton with bands of red, yellow, and blue stripes running the length of the textile. At the ends there are sets of red stripes that stretch across the width of the loincloth, and fringes reach around the ends. Sometimes beads or lead threads are also used in the end panels. The decorated end panels are extensively embellished with white glass beads, which are heavy and weigh the cloth down.

    Asian Art Department, AGNSW, February 2012.