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The ulos shown below are part of the Toba Batak family heritage of Vera Tobing. They include ulos woven by Vera's grandmother, Ernestina br.Hutagalung (born in 1893) - the top row of four - and Vera's mother, Tianur br.Hutabarat (born in 1925) - the bottom row of three. The collection also includes ulos woven by professional weavers which were given as part of family adat (ritual celebration) ceremonies. Although Vera did not directly continue the family tradition of weaving, in the 1980s and 90s, together with the local government, she worked with a local group of weavers to utilise traditional Toba Batak weaving in a modern context. Included below is an ulos from that time which, although not given in an adat ceremony, remains true to traditional design.

Early in January 2006 it was my good fortune to receive a 'virtual' introduction to Vera's daughter, Maria and several of the ulos featured here have subsequently come into my collection. Through Maria's unstinting efforts - continually prompted by my never ending questions - it has been possible to visually put together this group of fine textiles for this web photogallery and to gradually assemble the family history to which they relate-although this remains in part 'work in progress'. It has been a rare privilege to gain an insight into the history of North Sumatra from the mid- to late-19th Century to the present day through this Batak family story. Click on an individual ulos below for an enlargement and information on it. Vera's family story, background information on the Batak, their textiles and the references utilised in research for this study may be accessed via the links set out at the top and bottom of this ulos photogallery.

these images are © and may not be reproduced without the express permission of Pamela A Cross and Vera Tobing

top top   top   top   ulos photographed by Mari Pro Foto Studio, Jawa Barat Depok

Maria DRT Ambesa is the daughter of Vera Tobing and an architect now living with her husband in Java. She has been the essential intermediary allowing these fine textiles and their story to be shared. She arranged for the family ulos to be photographed and has worked tirelessly, together with her mother, to track down information about the ulos, their weavers and to extract memories and photos of the past from a family who have been amazed that there should be any interest in their history or value placed on it as background to the textiles. Maria's patience, persistence and endless cheerful support plus her excellent English, have made the 'Vera Tobing collection' not only possible but a thoroughly enjoyable study to develop. Both Pamela and Maria are very grateful indeed for the encouragement and advice which they have received from Sandra Niessen, a leading expert on the Batak and their textiles. See an autobiography and Batak references for more information about Sandra and her publications.

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