Batik Paperback - 2000

From the publisher

In Asia, and particularly in Indonesia, batik has long been considered a medium of expression with deep cultural significance. The intricate designs on fabric, created with the aid of a small wax painting device and dyed with natural dyes, were signs of status and hierarchy in the highly sophisticated court culture that developed in central Java.

When batik workshops run by women of various ethnic origins sprang up on the north coast of Java during the 19th century, designs were created which reflected a wide range of cultural influences, combining Chinese and European design styles and colors with various Indonesian traditions. Javanese batiks hence stand for ethnic diversity as well as for identity and unity.

Rudolf G. Smend has been involved with Indonesian batiks since the early 1970s and has brought together an impressive collection of top quality pieces. Exceptional textiles such as hip cloths, breast cloths, headscarves, child-carrying cloths, and ceremonial weavings are featured in this beautifully illustrated book. Historical photographs and color reproductions together with an introductory essay on Javanese batiks make this an indispensable book for anybody interested in the mesmerizing world of Indonesian textile art.