So I threw in the photo of the weaving woman just 'cuz ...
It's not batik but it's beautiful workmanship via a different, but equally historic, method. These photos are from a bazaar at Total's camp on the weekend. Many local artisans. (...except the batik stamp, which I bought at my favorite furniture shop ... Ichank, the manager, had just returned from vacation on Java where he'd hunted down some sellers of antique batik stamps. He knew that I was an antique nut so he and I sat on the floor of his shop and unwrapped all 25 stamps. I oohed and ahhed as each was revealed. He had planned on cleaning up all of them and framing them in shadow boxes but I convinced him that he should display them as is, with one sample cleaned and framed, and let people choose 'cuz some folks -- like me -- didn't want it looking new and didn't want it untouchable, behind glass. He gave me mine for a very good price -- about 1/3 of Arry's prices for similar stamps.)
The fabric samples are mainly of a more simple and modern batik that doesn't utilize as many steps.
You can see on the antique stamp that the detail of the older, hand-done, batik work is exquisite. Many stages, ... wax and color.
We hope to visit a batik village on the island of Java sometime. I'll be sure to take MANY photos!
4 comments:
Well, I am blown away by the more simple designs, I guess. They are stunning and I wish they were somehow reproduced at Joanne's Fabric so I could make drapes or something! I don't see a batik stamp, if you included a picture. But I would like to! My mom made a piece of batik in a class in high school, and she kept it her whole life. It was black, white and gray with rust color as well. Not nearly as beautiful as these! And your orchids are amazing. I have a friend who keeps them indoors here and certainly does not treat them with such TLC as you do, and they seem to thrive, so maybe yours would in the guest room. Maybe worth a try?
Hi, Zona! The stamp is that approx 7x7 inch metal squarish thing with all of the curly-q's that's sitting on the granite counter -- does that show up in the photo? It's made of little pieces of copper/brass mixture that is very thin and is bent or cut into the pattern. Then, somehow wax goes through it -- they blow the wax to the places they want it by blowing through a little copper tube/pipe thing. All very complicated, requiring much patience, ... one of the reasons the younger generation is not too thrilled to pick up where the old people stop.
What happened to your mom's batik? I hope it's still in the family.
Oh my goodness, I thought that was a basket! It is amazingly intricate! As you describe it, batik is way more challenging to make than I understood. I hope it survives, because it is so beautiful.
I'm pretty sure that Mom's batik is still with us somewhere. We had a great method for divying things after Dad went to Glory, but I don't remember who got that particular article.
I am so interested in all your beautiful pictures and descriptions! Thanks for sharing. Do you continue to teach?
Zona,
Yes ... I'm still teaching and am getting busier by the day with private students, too! 4 women students and 3 children -- all with very unique needs so it keeps me hopping! I'll have to blog about it soon!
Our U.S. shipment arrived yesterday and boxes are everywhere but it's one mess that I embrace whole-heartedly! Will blog about that, too!
Now, off to the boxes!
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