skirt;
sarong
- Museum number
- As1934,0307.51
- Description
-
A tubular cotton skirt cloth, a sarung; stitched into a tube by hand and machine and decorated with the batik technique. Section of badan opposite kepala is in shape of triangle with truncated apex. From top to bottom this is decorated with: a dancer with wings on a camel, a dancer with wings and carrying a bough on the back of a donkey, with a second winged being below, two winged musicians blowing horns to either side of a bird, finally at lowest band (from left to right) a crowned female bust within an oval frame, a scene with two seated figures flanked by two standing figures (all with striped trousers) before a structure topped by a cross, behind which are tall candlesticks [?], pillars and a building. To the right of this scene the bust of a crowned male figure dressed in military attire with a row of medals and epaulettes. Beneath this are the letters 'TABLJER', each letter set against a floral frame. Right hand edge of the triangle has a band of trees, bushes, human and animal figures and bridges. Set in this band are the words 'DE WERELD TENTOONSTELLING'. Beyond this is a band depicting what appears to be a townscape with walls, bridges, low buildings and canals. Along each side of this almost triangular section is a row of curved shapes. The badan has a blue ground against which are set figures of birds, animals (including lion and monkey) what appear to be cupboards, buildings, a male figure with a horse and other figures in what appears to be European costume. The kepala is at the extreme edge of the cloth, and has broken triangles in green, cream and blue/black, the kepala full of flowers between which are motifs within a garland frame depicting a pair of human figures in European costume, a bird, winged cupid, flowers, bird with garland in its beak, basket of fruit and so on set against a red ground. The papan has a cream ground, key fret border, scrolling flowers within. The border at top and bottom has a scrolling floral pattern against a blue/green ground with cream dots, the section above and below the kepala differing, with a red ground. [Text written by Dr Fiona Kerlogue, Horniman Museum.]
- Production date
- 1880-1913
- Dimensions
-
Length: 111 centimetres
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Width: 109 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
Possibly produced by the famous batik maker Catharina Carolina van Oosterom (Sabine Bolk, October 2018).
A similar piece is found in the book 'Batik Belanda' by H. Veldhuisen, who attributed it to van Oosterom.
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Badan: this is the main field of the cloth.
Kepala: this is an area of a sarung, usually one-third of its width, containing the triangular ‘tumpal' design. It may be at one or both ends of the cloth, or in the middle. The motifs differ in colour and/or pattern from the badan.
Papan: these are the vertical panels either side of the ‘kepala' on a sarung.
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There is a cloth in Charles Beving's African textile collection which has design motifs inspired by this Javanese batik; see Af1934,0307.391
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
EXHIBITED:
2011 Sept – 2012 Feb, ‘Grayson Perry: The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman’, BM Galleries, G35
- Acquisition date
- 1934
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- As1934,0307.51