Capsule for weaving coil

Taropong

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"541. Bobbin casing - "Taropong"
Six pieces of bamboo tubes, on the outside decorated with black-dyed carvings. In these are stored the spools "Aru-pelu". The natives of the Indian Archipelago have reached a high level in the weaving arts. It is not considered as a craft but is the possession of the whole society, that is to say, the women. On Sumatra, namely on the east coast of this island, as well as on North Sumatra, in the realm of Aceh, true works of art are made. The perfection comes from the great age of this art, which has at any rate been known to the natives for centuries and was probably the first thing they accepted from the Asian culture. Silk fabrics are made, artfully interwoven with gold wire, which have a value of many hundred, even thousands of Gulden. The cloth made on South Celebes is no doubt second only to those mentioned form Sumatra. We want, therefore, to treat the products in the collection in the same order."

Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 138-139). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller