Details
CollectionSouth & Southeast Asian Collection
Object numberS0001-0052-001-0
TitleKain panjang (“long cloth”, hip wrap) featuring proscribed parang rusak and dielamprang motifs - C
DescriptionThis batik combines two of Java's most distinctive patterns, the parang rusak ("broken knife", a garismiring pattern) and the nitik ("dotted") or jelamprang (eight-pointed motif, a ceplok pattern). The parang rusak is an old batik motif traditionally reserved for the royal families of Jogjakarta and Surakarta but it is now freely worn by commoners. Whereas the parang rusak is predominantly light brown or off-white, the jelamprang motif appears as faint dots on a dark indigo ground.
Batik was originally a court art confined to the ladies of the aristocracy and certain patterns were, until recently, reserved for the ruling class. This late 19th century ‘kain panjang’ (“long cloth”, hip wrap) from Central Java combines two of Java's most distinctive patterns, the ‘parang rusak’ ("broken knife") and the ‘nitik’ ("dotted") or ‘jelamprang’ (eight-pointed motif). The ‘parang rusak’ is an old batik motif traditionally reserved for the royal families of Jogjakarta and Surakarta.” (Past, Present , Beyond: Re-nascence of an Art Collection, Page 40)Rare old batik, reserved for the Javanese aristrocracy, 19th C, in fairly good condition - C
Production placeIndonesia, Central Java - C
Production period19th C, Mid - Late - C
Object categoryTextile
MaterialCotton, natural dyes
TechniqueBatik tulis
Dimensions
L: 214 cm
W: 121 cm
W: 121 cm
