How Can You Tell if a Batik is of Good Quality by Its Three Qualities?

 

BATIK: 

Batik is an ancient form of art in Indonesia made with wax-resistant dye on fabric. Batik is created either by printing the resist with a copper stamp known as a cap or by adding dots and lines to the resist with a spouted tool called a canting. The fabric can be colored by the artisan by soaking it in one color, removing the wax with boiling water, and repeating if more colors are desired because the applied wax resists dyes. wax-resist dyeing is a method used to cover the entire piece of fabric with batik. On the Indonesian island of Java, this method first appeared.

A history of acculturation, a blending of indigenous and other cultures, may be seen in the Java-produced Indonesian coastal batik (batik pesisir). It is a more recent style than inland batik and uses more colors, but the designs are much simpler. This is since coastal batik may be produced by anyone, whereas inland batik was before only produced by chosen masters residing in palace locations.

 

For Indonesians, batik is very significant, and many wear it on formal and informal occasions. Indonesians use batik in many rituals, ceremonies, festivities, and even day-to-day activities.

 

Usage Of Batik:

The use of batik has expanded to encompass Batik paintings, furnishing fabrics, heavy canvas wall hangings, tablecloths, and home decor items in addition to clothing for the human body.

Famous painters utilize batik techniques to make batik paintings that adorn many homes and offices.

 

Batik paintings: Batik paintings use vibrant hues and patterns. No matter the subject—whether it's a figure, a portrait, a landscape, or a pattern—Batik art paintings all appear beautiful. Every batik is created through a labor-intensive and skill-intensive process. Even though there are several varieties of batiks dependent on how designs are applied to fabric, such as stamping, writing, and painting, each procedure produces a stunning work of art in which the painting is woven into the fabric. While the creative processes for Batik paintings were the same across the nations that bordered Indonesia, including India, the culture of that nation influenced the artwork.

Good Quality Batik:

If you want to buy Batik painting art but are unsure whether it is authentic, here are some guidelines to assist you to find authentic Batik.

Color arrangement: 

• Malam (hot liquid wax), which the Gujarati traders who came to Java in the sixth century introduced, is used in the traditional method of creating batik.

• Both the handcrafted batik Tulis and batik cap are constructed using natural dyes made from leaves and flowers.

• This results in a variety of earth tones and typically features the deep-brown sogan color, which resembles the color of dirt.

• Sometimes this batik is referred to as batik sogan.

• While chemical dyes are used in printed batik to provide a greater spectrum of color changes and brighter, more brilliant hues.

 

Opposite side:

• Examining the fabric's "opposite" side can help you spot handmade batik Tulis. 

• As only one side of the cloth is printed using a textile printer, the reverse side of the printed batik is clearly visible with faded colors.

• The cloth is manually dyed by dipping it into a vat of dye to produce the batik Tulis, which is made by applying wax to both the front and back of the fabric.

Chemical-free impression:

• A canting, a unique copper-bowled tool, is used to draw each stroke in a batik Tulis, giving the fabric's designs a more "organic" aspect.

• A Batik Tulis may also have unusual stains or other flaws because it is hand-drawn.

• Even though this may make batik Tulis appear disorganized in comparison to printed batik, it is this lovely mess that increases the value of Batik Tulis.

 

Different types of patterns in Batik:

Kawung: one of the oldest batik patterns. found on the temples and statues. such as on the Ganesh statue in kediri, central java. Batik kawung is also used to cover corpses as it symbolizes the journey back to nature.

Parang: it is also known as lereng. The patterns were before reserved for the Javanese royal family. There are more than 60 batik parang patterns adaptations, which include parang rusak, parang kusumo, parang pamor, and parang barong. Batik parang barong was a cloth that the king wore in public appearance. 

Udan liris: Originated from wonopringgo, a village in the southern part of pekalongan, central java. , the pattern means to never quit and embrace challenges. Batik udan liris was used by the palace’s pepatih dalem(prime minister) and by the general public during wedding ceremonies. 

Tambal: Tambal means patching up for recovering from wrongdoings. In the Javanese palace, the pattern was used by abdi dalem (royal servants), panewu, or Mantri in a clerks position. In the past, batik tambal was used as a blanket for sick people as it was believed that disease comes from a missing thing that required patching. 

Sekar jagad: Literally meaning the flowers of the universe, the pattern represents love and peace. Batik Sekar jagad is commonly used for wedding ceremonies. Batik saker jagad also symbolizes the hope that the couple will live happily with others and also their surroundings.

 

Taman arum sunyaragi: The pattern originated in Cirebon, West Java. The pattern symbolizes the kasultanan Cirebon’s wisdom. The pattern shows spiritual and recreational traditions. Until today, batik taman arum sunyaragi is still produced by the Trusmi Batik centre in Cirebon. 

 

Truntum: Truntum is used by parents during wedding ceremonies and symbolizes that the bride is ready to be guided by her parents and seven senior family members. Moreover, Batik Truntum is commonly worn by the bride during midodareni(eve of the wedding ceremony). Batik Truntum also represents hope that the wedded couple will follow the norms and the values of life.

Conclusion:

Batik is an ancient form of art in Indonesia made with wax-resistant dye on fabric. Fabric can be colored by the artisan by soaking it in one color, removing the wax with boiling water, and repeating if more colors are desired because the applied wax resists dyes. Batik Tulis and batik caps are both made using natural dyes made from leaves and flowers. Chemical dyes are used in printed batik to provide a greater spectrum of color changes and brighter, more brilliant hues. A canting, a unique copper-bowled tool, is used to draw each stroke in a batik Tulis.