Sarong (Indonesia), 1900–1957

A panel of glazed cotton, resist-printed, probably by a batik method known as cap (tjap) printing (wax resist applied by means of blocks inlaid with copper strips). Two-thirds of the piece (the body or ‘badan’) has diagonal bands filled with tiny zigzag striping alternating with bands of curving vines. This densely patterned area differs from the head or ‘kepala’ of the piece which shows large stems of flowers and butterflies (buketan motif) on a solid dark ground.