PRECIOUS WOVEN CRAFTS OF SARAWAK

They might have just been used for a variety of applications in everyday life, but the woven crafts of the indigenous people of Sarawak are nothing short of artistic masterpieces. From the manner in which they are made, to their variety of patterns and colours, each piece of woven craft represents the identity of the people who make them. And it is just so fascinating how these different indigenous groups – from the Bidayuh and the Iban, to the Orang Ulu and the Melanau – have been creating such a vast array of intricate craftworks for centuries, using just natural materials readily available around them.

Nature’s gift

Sarawak’s woven crafts, in particular baskets and other objects made from natural materials, have been around for a very long time. This is evidenced by the fact that numerous artefacts in the form of early basketry and woven works were unearthed in Sarawak in the 1950s. The artefacts, dating back to as early as 500 BC that marked the end of the Nordic Bronze Age and the start of the pre-Roman Iron Age, were made of natural materials namely bamboo, rattan and pandanus. Those are the very materials used even to this day, by the different ethnic communities all over Sarawak to produce their woven crafts. But of course, before they can be turned into beautiful works of art, these natural materials must first be processed into weaving fibres that are easy to work with, sturdy and long-lasting.

With such an abundance of natural materials in the rainforest of Borneo, it makes complete sense that artisans in the past, who more often than not were mere farmers, produce numerous woven crafts for a variety of uses. For example, some used pandanus leaves to produce mats, the Bidayuh made their carrying basket known as tambok out of rattan, while the Penan used bamboo in many of their crafts. And it is pretty much the same today.

Beautiful ethnic woven crafts of Sarawak

While they served a variety of functions in the past, Sarawak’s ethnic woven crafts were painstakingly handwoven into beautiful works of art. Master artisans were especially detailed in producing their crafts, incorporating intricate motifs in the most artistic manner. That is not to say that today’s craft makers are not as masterful in the art of weaving as those in the past. They are. In fact, the modern-day artisans have even taken things up a notch. The products that they handcraft today come in a wide range of designs that appeal to the modern consumer while still retaining their authenticity and cultural identity. Let’s take a look at some of these crafts, shall we?

Tambok : Of the many types of baskets made by the Bidayuh people, including ranji (fruit basket) and juah (used in rice harvesting), the tambok is the most famous. It is a cylindrical carrying basket featuring vertical and horizontal interlacing rattan strands that start at the base. An additional weft strand is added, after which the strands from the base are folded up to form the sides. Four rattan sticks are tied to the corners of the tambok to help it keep to its form. And the basket can vary in its design, depending on who makes it. Some prefer it plain and simple, keeping to the original colour of the fibres while some would also use fibres dyed in black to achieve a more interesting look.

Bidai : The bidai is one of many types of mats woven by the Iban people. The bidai is usually large, and frame looms are required to make it. Though usually without intricate patterns or motifs, this bamboo floor mat used in Iban Gawai closing ceremonies, among other daily uses, is just as aesthetically impressive. It is made out of split rattan in a simple horizontal weft weaving technique, with bark fibres warped vertically to hold everything in place. The mat is finished by folding the ends of the rattan strands.

Penan Drawstring Basket : Like its name suggests, this beautiful rattan basket is made by the Penan folk, using a more complicated technique whereby the weaving stars at the rim of the basket, and not the base. At the rim of the basket, there are small Turk’s-head rings made from a single rattan strand no wider than a millimetre. The Penan Drawstring Basket comes in beautiful black and natural coloured patterns and features a separately made base stitched to the body of the basket, and shoulder straps attached to the rings on top and at the base of the basket.

Winnowing Trays : These trays made of rattan are still being used today by village folks in the villages of Sarawak. They use it to separate rice from chaff by throwing them in the air so the wind would blow the chaff away, leaving only the rice to fall back into the winnowing tray. Used by different ethnic groups in Sarawak for pretty much the same purpose, winnowing trays are made using rattan in either plain or open twill weave, and later stitched to a rattan cane bent to form hoops. The result is a winnowing tray in a shape that resembles a shovel, although some ethnic groups such as those in the coastal areas produce circular shaped trays.

Terendak : Many ethnic groups in Sarawak have their version of the sun hat, although the Melanau people are probably most well-known for it. As far as its function is concerned, the Melanau sun hat, locally known as the terendak, is pretty much what its name suggests – a hat that protects its wearer from the sun. Meant to be worn by women, the terendak is made from nipah (Nypa fruticans) leaves and is traditionally black and red in colour. Modern versions of the sun hat also have other colours such as yellow and green on them.

Perfect souvenirs

These and so many other woven crafts of the ethnic groups of Sarawak have not lost their place in modern society. Efforts are being made both by local artisans and various associations to preserve these priceless ethnic art forms. While they no longer necessarily serve the same functions as they did in the past, these crafts are now use as decorative items for the home, while some are kept as priceless family heirlooms.

Available at souvenir shops throughout Sarawak, these craftworks also make perfect keepsakes, especially for tourists who want to take a piece of Sarawak’s unique cultural heritage back home with them.