Antique Tampan (Ship's Cloth) Ceremonial TextileSouth Sumatra, Indonesia, early to mid 20th c. In three colors. Tampan were owned and used by virtually every Lampung family to consecrate ritual occasions and to assist each individual as he or she progressed through the diverse ceremonies that marked the various stages of life. They were displayed or exchanged at both birth and death, at marriages, circumcisions, and ceremonies marking changes in social rank. They served as the focal point for ceremonial meals, as the seat for the elders who oversaw traditional law, and were tied to the ridge poles of newly built houses. They were a sacred force that bound society together. Size: 24'' x 12.25'' (61 x 31 cm).