This royal Lao Pahudu, or ceremonial skirt, is made for a titled lady from the village of Rende in East Sumba, and has an interesting history. There are only two known versions of this design from this period. It represents a warrior on horseback surrounded by upper and lower world animals of power and protection. The ikat band above depicts victory trees (pohon andung), a structure in the village where the skulls of enemies were formerly hung and displayed. The first version was originally made in Pao in the 19th century by Tamu Rambu Maraba Hutar, the grandmother of the late King Tananggoendjoe. The grandmother of the present Queen of Rende so admired the pattern that she asked to borrow it to have a similar skirt woven, which would have been circa 1915-1935.