PHA NUNG. GOLDPATTERNED WHITE SILK.
Thailand or India for Thailand; first part 20th century.

Natural white silk with gold threads. Gold cloths; like this one were worn at the Siamese court as a wrap skirt (pha nung; pha toi) or as folded trousers (pha chong kraben). On both ends the number of woven borders corresponds to the person's status - the more borders there are; the higher is the status of the person. The cloth is unused; glossy and has kept the original finish. 95 x 295cm. Condition A/B. A blue stain in one of the corners.

Provenance:
Coll. Dr. Otto Schwend before 1938.

Type cf.:
Museum of Fine Arts Boston: Accession Number 54.804.


Art trade; Van Ham.