Batik Sarong
Dark brown and navy floral and geometric patterns
This wax batik shows a very orderly geometric field, dotted with navy and brown flowers. This combination of flowers set within a repeating geometric field is especially characteristic of Indonesian batiks in which natural forms are disciplined into a repeating pattern rather than represented realistically. This is not simply one isolated motif but a composite decorative system.
The dense geometric field belong to the broader Indonesian batik tradition of geometric patterning, in which small, repeated units are transformed into a continuous field. Geometric motifs can carry associations with order, balance and harmony.
-
This sarong is perfect example of a batik cap (stamped) textile. The design was created by repeatedly stamping a natural fabric (such as cotton or silk) with a wood and metal stamp called a tjap or cap (pronounced and sometimes called a chop). This tool consists of intricately shaped thin copper strips welded or soldered onto a metal framework with a handle (often featuring wooden elements or gripped via a handle). Artisans dip the tjaps into molten wax to quickly and repeatedly stamp geometric or floral designs onto fabric.
An Indonesian sarong is a traditional tube-shaped garment made from brightly colored fabric, usually silk, cotton, or rayon. It is wrapped around the lower body by both men and women and tucked or tied at the waist. The garment is deeply rooted in Indonesian culture, serving as everyday clothing, ceremonial attire, or versatile household items.
Title: Batik Sarong
Date: 1996
Geography: Java, Indonesia
Medium: Cotton
Dimensions: H. 90 in. W. 39 in.
Provenance: Purchased in Yogyakarta (or Jogja), Indonesia
Inventory Number: IND.14
