Terms and conditions of use
Ceremonial hanging and covering
(Pidan)
(19th century)
- Medium
- silk, dyes (weft ikat)
- Measurements
- 99.5 × 144.5 cm
- Place/s of Execution
- Cambodia
- Accession Number
- 2006.280
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 2006
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation - Gallery location
- Level 1, NGV International
- About this work
-
Cambodian ikat textiles, known as pidan, were traditionally used in various temple contexts. This pidan illustrates the life of Prince Vessantara, the Buddha incarnation before his life as Prince Shakamuni, when he gained enlightenment. The technique used to create ikat pidan results in mirrored designs appearing across the textile: baby Prince Vessantara appears in the lower section of the cloth with his mother, Queen Maya. Above, the wife and children of Prince Vessantara sit in a pavilion alongside a meditating Buddha and the white elephant that the prince selflessly gave away.
- Physical description
- The textile is woven in silk threads patterned using the weft ikat (hol) technique. The pattern depicts the birth of the Buddha. The composition is similar to that of the majority of pidan, with mirrored motifs arranged in bands or friezes.