Not currently on display at the V&A

Skirt Cloth

mid 20th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cotton batik kain panjang of the so-called morning/evening type has different designs at each end so that it can be worn on different occasions--for morning or evening functions, for example. The design itself is referred to as the Hokokai style, and is of a type commonly made in the period of the Japanese occupation of Java. One end has a rice grain background on a cream ground with floral and leaf designs in bright blue, and red, with yellow leaves. The other end has a blue background, a background of rambling foliage in mustard colour and, superimposed, large crysanthemum type flowers in blue and red and leaves with yellow veins on red background. The overall design consists of four floral bouquets, two at each end, and a partial bouquet straddling the centre.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cotton batik
Brief description
Skirt cloth (kain panjang) of cotton batik, Java, mid 20th century
Physical description
Skirt cloth (kain panjang) of cotton batik in the pagi-sore (morning/evening) style. It has different designs at each end so that it can be worn on different occasions. One end has a rice grain background on a cream ground with floral and leaf designs in bright blue, and red, with yellow leaves. The other end has a blue background with semen and rambling foliage in mustard colour with large crysanthemum type flowers in blue and red and leaves with yellow veins on a red background. The overall design consists of four floral bouquets, two at each end, and a partial bouquet straddling the centre.
Dimensions
  • Width: 41in
  • Length: 93in
Production
Made on the north coast of Java
Summary
This cotton batik kain panjang of the so-called morning/evening type has different designs at each end so that it can be worn on different occasions--for morning or evening functions, for example. The design itself is referred to as the Hokokai style, and is of a type commonly made in the period of the Japanese occupation of Java. One end has a rice grain background on a cream ground with floral and leaf designs in bright blue, and red, with yellow leaves. The other end has a blue background, a background of rambling foliage in mustard colour and, superimposed, large crysanthemum type flowers in blue and red and leaves with yellow veins on red background. The overall design consists of four floral bouquets, two at each end, and a partial bouquet straddling the centre.
Bibliographic reference
The V&A Album, 5, London: 1986 Number: ISBN 1851770771 Swallow, Deborah, A Singular Substitute, pps. 156-164
Collection
Accession number
IS.73-1985

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Record createdMarch 9, 2004
Record URL
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