Curator

  • Art Institute Chicago
  • Harvard art museum
  • My Exhibition
A work made of cotton, plain weave; hand-drawn wax resist dyed (batik tulis).

Headcloth (Iket Kepala)

Late 19th century

Indonesia, Central Java

Java

Here is another variant of the semen design favored at the central Javanese courts. The bodies of large-winged birds, referring to Garuda, along with smaller birds, fruit, and flowers, are arranged radially against a ground of finely dotted foliage and vines. The palette is dominated by the characteristic reddish-brown soga dye, made from the bark of the soga tree.

Cotton, plain weave; hand-drawn wax resist dyed (batik tulis)

Textiles