Batik Gallery

Waist Cloth (Kain Panjeng), 1800s - early 1900s. Creator: Unknown

Waist Cloth (Kain Panjeng), 1800s - early 1900s. Unlike the Chinese and sometimes European motifs of Northern Javanese batiks, the motifs represented on the batiks of central Java are indigenous. However, due to the influence of Islam, they are represented in a very abstract, stylized fashion. In this batik, a celestial scene--probably signifying the ritual renewal of community life and prosperity--is repeated against a background of small filling motifs. The scene consists of a ship (represented as a divided bow and stern) bearing a Tree of Life, which signifies the community's passage to renewed life; on either side of the ship is a winged pavilion; and above is a sacred mountain, the abode of the gods, with a shrine

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Detail of a batik kain with a design of medallions of birds wings alternating with ships wheels

Detail of a batik kain with a design of medallions of bird's wings alternating with ships wheels. Insects, stars, moons and birds symbolising night dot the background. Country of Origin: Indonesia. Culture: Javanese. Date/Period: c.1960. Place of Origin: Surakarta, Java. Material Size: Cotton. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/Saba Collection, London. Location: 06

© Werner Forman Archive / Heritage-Images

An extraordinary batik which was brought to Europe from China after the Boxer Rebellion

An extraordinary batik which was brought to Europe from China after the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the century. The design of fantastic animals is in gold and black and red tempera on a blue background. Country of Origin: Indonesia. Culture: Javanese. Date/Period: c.1890. Place of Origin: Java. Material Size: Cotton. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/Private Collection, Prague. Location: 06

© Werner Forman Archive / Heritage-Images