‘Cindai’ among attractions at Johor Weave Gallery

JOHOR BAHRU: A piece of weaved material, called “Cindai”, which is said to be 100 years old, is among the oldest artifacts on display at the Weave Gallery at the Sultan Abu Bakar Heritage Complex, Jalan Sungai Chat, here.

Assistant Curator at the Johor Weave Gallery, Roslinda Mohd Rosli said the weaved material, believed to be from Riau, was the most expensive and oldest acquired by the Johor Heritage Foundation (YWJ) as part of its efforts to preserve the heritage and to attract the people to the art of weaving.

“The Cindai cloth, measuring 264 cm x 89 cm, is believed to have been used as a shawl and for treatment. It is said to have majestic power and can be used to protect the wearer,” she told Bernama.

Besides the Cindai piece of cloth, there is also the Khmer cloth, said to be from Thailand, which has a motif of an elephant, “Telepuk” cloth, also from Riau, believed to be about 50-years-old, and “Berayat” cloth, which it contains, believed to be Arabic writings.

Roslinda said visitors at the gallery could study the history of the cloth materials concerned and well as other artifacts on display.

“Our objective of having this gallery is to make the public, especially the young people, to become interested again in the arts of weaving,” she added.

Meanwhile, YWJ Corporate Unit head Shafie Ahmad said visitors to the gallery would also get to see the 10 songket and weave motifs that had been given patent under the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation.

He said the gallery was set up on the initiative of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, to expose to the society on the art of making Johor-style weaved material.

The gallery is open to the public every from 9 am to 4 pm, except on Friday and Saturday. - Bernama