Some human works last for centuries, or even millennia. Ancient pottery, carvings from Greece, India and China and even pre-historic cave paintings survive through the years and give us plentiful clues as to their origin.
Textiles, however, simply don't have that durability, and as such nobody really knows where ikat patterns originally come from. There's no doubt that they have a long history across Asia for example (the word 'ikat' itself is Indonesian) but then again the same type of cloth was known in Pre-Columbian South America.
What we do know is that the basic technique is the same everywhere: by turns dyeing yarn, then weaving it, then dyeing it again to create ever-more elaborate patterns.
Modern designers are still being inspired by these patterns — here are ten objects which draw on the tradition and which could fit your home.
Heraldic linen Ikat, 18cm (7in), straight empire pendant shade, £49, Pooky — www.pooky.com
Ramati Indigo throw, $149 (about £119), John Robshaw (00 1 212 594 6006; www.johnrobshaw.com
Ikat Bolster cushion, £130, The Rug Company — www.therugcompany.com
Dahan cushion cover, £48, OKA — www.oka.com
Voyage en Ikat tea cup and saucer, sold as set of two, £500 — www.hermes.com
Ekat Fashion rug, £8,820, Knots Rugs — www.knotsrugs.co.uk
Aurelia chair in Volcano Paradise fabric, £475, Andrew Martin — www.andrewmartin.co.uk
Self Whiteous lamp base, medium, £295, pleated-silk shade, £180, Rosanna Lonsdale — www.rosannalonsdale.com
Ikat Tamsin dining chair, £118, Anthropologie — www.anthropologie.com
Georgian-style stool, £820 plus fabric, David Seyfried — www.davidseyfried.com
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