Not currently on display at the V&A

Shawl

1926 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This imitation batik shawl was manufactured by Langley Prints in 1926. The craft of batik came to Europe from Indonesia via the Netherlands. It was popularised during the 1920s by practitioners such as Mme Pangon in Paris and Jessie M. King of the Glasgow School of Art. The characteristic lines made by cracks in the wax during the dyeing process are considered a fault in Indonesia. In the West, however, many artists used these to ornamental effect.

The technique involves applying wax to the textile to protect the patterned areas before placing it in a dye bath. The process can then be repeated by removing areas of wax and dyeing the exposed parts with further colours.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Screen-printed silk, machine-hemmed, knotted silk fringe
Brief description
Shawl of screen-printed silk, made by Langley Print Works, Great Britain, 1926.
Physical description
Shawl of screen-printed silk. Repeat of a central flower and spiral around which large flowers and leaves radiate. There is a black border and the white ground is veined with black and orange in imitation of the patterning of batik fabrics where the wax cracks during dyeing. The motifs are black and orange. Machine-hemmed. Knotted fringe in coloured silk, 11 inches long.
Dimensions
  • Length: 188cm
  • Width: 180.5cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Langley Prints
Summary
This imitation batik shawl was manufactured by Langley Prints in 1926. The craft of batik came to Europe from Indonesia via the Netherlands. It was popularised during the 1920s by practitioners such as Mme Pangon in Paris and Jessie M. King of the Glasgow School of Art. The characteristic lines made by cracks in the wax during the dyeing process are considered a fault in Indonesia. In the West, however, many artists used these to ornamental effect.

The technique involves applying wax to the textile to protect the patterned areas before placing it in a dye bath. The process can then be repeated by removing areas of wax and dyeing the exposed parts with further colours.
Bibliographic reference
Samuels, Charlotte. Art Deco Textiles. London : V&A Publications, 2003. Plate 102.
Collection
Accession number
T.84-1964

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Record createdSeptember 30, 2002
Record URL
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