Man's Kain Kaligrafi (Head Scarf)

There was a substantial Muslim community in the north coast port city of Cirebon. Special textiles were produced there with designs based on Arabic script, usually in a palette of red or blue and white. Patterns incorporate invocations to Allah, including the word bismillah (in the name of God), introducing the phrase that begins all prayers and chapters of the Qur'an. Square versions of these calligraphic cloths were worn as headcloths, while larger examples such as this were used as shoulder cloths to cover the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony or to cover a tray holding their wedding gifts.