| Batik is an artistic technique of dyeing a cloth by using | | | | 19th century became greatly developed form of art in |
| a wax-resist method. Wax-resist method is the most | | | | the cultural life of the Javanese. |
| traditional way to dye or color a cloth. This method | | | | There were some specific Batik designs worn by the |
| prevents the dye from spreading on the entire cloth | | | | Javanese royalty and thus it was felt that Batik was |
| and so as to give a beautiful pattern or design on the | | | | originally meant to be worn by the monarchs of the |
| cloth. Batik is regarded as the cultural and traditional art | | | | royal Sultan's palace. The Princesses and royal |
| in Indonesia. The traditional colors used for Batik are | | | | women might have encouraged the finest designs of |
| deep shades of indigo, dark brown and white which | | | | Batik that reflect the traditional patters. Well, the untidy |
| symbolize the three main Hindu Gods. Javanese Batik, | | | | dyeing work with consequent waxing was done by |
| from Jog Jakarta with some particular meaning is | | | | the court artisans who worked under their direction. |
| found in countries of West Africa like Nigeria, Ghana, | | | | Known as the great fans of art, Javanese royalty |
| Cameroon, Uganda and Mali with the true Javanese | | | | supported the development of traditional art form like |
| idea, and in Asia like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, | | | | silver embellishment, leather puppets known as |
| Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Burma. | | | | wayang kulit in java and gamelan orchestra. The |
| Long ago, in the ancient period around 1500 years ago, | | | | Javanese dalang (puppeteer) was a major source for |
| the dye resist designs on the cloth were found in | | | | the Batik patterns too. Wayang puppets are made |
| Egypt and the Middle East along with the two major | | | | from goat skin which was treated and colored to build |
| countries, samples are also found in Turkey, India, | | | | false impression on the puppet, were usually sold to |
| China, Japan and West Africa around hundreds of | | | | women who could get the necessary idea of batik |
| years ago. In the present date, Batik is highly | | | | designs from these puppets. The used charcoal and |
| developed form of art found on the island of Java, | | | | blew it through the holes that describe the design of |
| Indonesia. In the 17th century, the fabrics were highly | | | | puppet clothing, so that they could copy complicated |
| decorated with Dutch transcripts, by it is often believed | | | | patterns onto the cloth. |
| that complicated designs in Java were possible when | | | | However, some scholars deny the fact that Batik was |
| the finely woven imported cloth that was from India to | | | | originally meant for royalty as they feel that it is meant |
| Indonesia in 1800s and then from Europe in 1815. The | | | | for the rakyat, the people too. It was considered as a |
| similar Batik designs that were done on textiles earlier | | | | significant job for young women of the Central Java, |
| are noticed on stone statues that are beautifully | | | | revealing the fact that they are capable enough to |
| sculptured on the walls of Javanese temples like | | | | handle a canting (an instrument shaped like pen to |
| Prambanan AD 800, but then it is not yet confirmed | | | | apply wax to the cloth) with enough tact and skill just |
| that the cloth was Batik. These designs could be | | | | like skills used in cookery or other household arts. |
| produced by weaving techniques too. However, by the | | | | |