Man's headdress of hand-painted and wax-resist dyed cotton, Surakarta, Central Java, 19th century

Man's headdress of hand-painted and wax-resist dyed cotton in blue and brown on an undyed ground. Certain parts are stiffened with starch to obtain the folds, and at points stitching has been employed. The long strings to bind round the head are bound round with blue cotton at given distances of the length. The headcloth has been folded in half, and then pleated and stiffened to make a casing for the skull and a triangular wing-like projection at the back. The remainder is pleated into two long strings which are crossed in front of the head and tied above the knot of hair at the back of the head.

Given by Sir M.E. Sadler C.B., K.C.S.I. through the National Art Collections Fund

Note in the acquisiton register, "In a letter dated 27th June, 1921, Sir Michael Sadler wrote to Mr. Kendrick, Keeper of Textiles, as follows: "..I wonder whether you would care to have the Javanese Batiks and the Malayan warp-dyed fabrics as a gift to the Museum through the National Art Collections Fund? They were all collected by a Dutch lady for a Dutch Museum. But, owing to the war, she was marooned in Calcutta and I got the collection."

Given by Sir M.E. Sadler C.B., K.C.S.I. through the National Art Collections Fund . This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

R.P. 1921-4313

IM.278-1921