Only gae maze, noblewomen, were allowed to weave and wear this type of tubular skirt. Although they were thought to have a magical origin, the glass beads obtained through maritime trade accounted for a large part of the price of lawo butu; the men were responsible for assembling them, while the women applied the small pieces to the fabric.

From A. Vanderstraete in Monnaies, objets d’échange, Afrique, Asie, Océanie, Genève, Paris, Musée Barbier-Mueller, Somogy Éditions d’art, 2016, p. 182.

Artist: Ngada, Flores, Indonesia

Place of Design: Flores, Indonesia

Cotton, natural dyes, glass beads, nassa

Size: 160cm

Museum: Musée Barbier-Mueller