The batik of Java has a special place in museum textile collections and aspects of the art of batik have been discussed at length in countless publications. This study, based on the batik collections of the Náprstek Museum, raises a number of questions which have been so far underexplored. How strong is the evidence for the early manufacture of batik in Java? How and when did batik-making become widely practised there? Was it made by village women for their own use? How and why did batik develop into an industry employing thousands of people, filling warehouses with stock to be distributed throughout the Indonesian archipelago? What was the effect of the introduction of wax printing and of aniline dyes? It is often asserted that batik carries deep meaning. To what extent is this really the case? When did batik depicting wayang or shadow puppet figures start to be made, and who for? What was the role of calligraphy batiks? And what was it that drew European collectors to batik in the early 20th century? What local circumstances governedtheir choices? In a series of essays, this volume explores these questions, drawing on contemporary sources and providing a wealth of new insights.

A comprehensive and richly illustrated survey of batik, a glorious textile art and popular Indonesian cloth.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Batik is one of the most prominent expressions of the cultural identity of the Malay world. It the most popular traditional type of textile in Indonesia and other parts of SE Asia. The decorative styles used bear testimony to a cultural history that spans over 2,000 years. This book traces the origins and development of the motifs and patterns used in the design of batik, illustrated with a large selection of masterpieces from some of the foremost textile collections in the world. Also includes a cultural history of the Malay world to put the subject into a broader perspective. Focuses on batik technique, the traditional use of batik textiles, and to its occasional incorporated into modern fashion design.

This complete guide to Batik is an invaluable resource for those interested in Batik history, design, and weaving. Here in this volume, the author has not only given a comprehensive and fascinating account of the origins and history of batik, with examples of techniques and design, but also includes a complete "How-To-Do-It" section on modern methods of creating batik. The text is lucid and easy to follow, and the simple step-by-step format will enable the art enthusiast to investigate this rewarding and creative medium. Sample batiks by modern artists, show what can be done with craft, skill, and imagination. The author takes the reader through all aspects of making a batik, from a simple dipping, or tie-dying, to sectional dyeing, and the more intricate five or six-color patterns. Basic materials, fabric mixtures, wax temperatures etc. are discussed fully, and more important, the practical problems often encountered by a beginner are thoughtfully explained. Here is a book of batik literally giving you the 'tricks of the trade'.

Nike Davies is one of the few African women known internationally in contemporary art circles. The Woman with the Artistic Brush traces her life history and illustrates the strategies developed by women to mitigate male rule. Presenting a critique of the woman's place in contemporary Yoruba society from the perspective of a woman who lived it, this book covers Nike's life from the time of her mother's death when Nike was six to the culmination of her dream in the creation, against severe societal odds, of a center for arts and culture that has over 120 members. Along the way, The Woman with the Artistic Brush details how Nike ran away from home and joined a traveling theater group after her father tried to arrange her marriage, subsequently married and joined in the polygynous household of a noted artist from the popular Osogbo school, and finally broke clear of that situation after suffering sixteen years of domestic violence. The Woman with the Artistic Brush is another superb contribution to the Foremother Legacies series.