Batik sample

Ikat Kepala

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"630 - 643. Batik Samples
A whole collection of batiked cotton, showing all steps of this interesting process. Beginning with the simple, un-dyed cloth, and progressing to the pieces which are completely covered in wax, multi-colored, complicated designs.
a) the un-dyed raw cotton;
b) the cotton cloth covered with figures, whose contours are traced with wax;
c) and d) cotton cloth, also with figures, whose contours have been traced with wax and where some of the spaces between the figures to be dyed are completely filled with wax;
e) a head cloth, treated in this way, wax contours with some places which are completely covered in wax;
f) g) and h) cotton cloth where already all the places which should not be dyed have been covered with wax;
i) the same treatment as with the previous one, but already dyed red in some places;
k) all the places in the design which should not be dyed are covered with wax and the whole thing is already impregnated with blue dye;
l) m) and n) also covered with wax, completely dyed blue color, showing already red and yellow - dyed places;
o) completely covered with wax and having all the colors which are required for the design. This number shows the last stage of a multi-colored cloth and is prepared for the last boiling."

Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 156). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller