History of Batik

The center of batik artistry is in cities on the island of Java, including Solo, Jogyakarta, Pekalongan or Cirebon. Finely detailed designs are first drawn freehand with a pencil on the fabric. Then hot liquid wax is applied to the designs, to protect the fabric underneath from dyes and create a multi-hued final product.

A Javanese woman applies wax in intricate patterns with a “canting,” a small copper container with a long slender spout. From time to time, she must blow on the tip of the canting to secure the easy flow of the wax.

Areas not slated for coloring are covered with wax. The fabric is then put in a vat of dye. After the fabric is dyed and dried, the wax is removed with hot water, scraped from the portions of the dried material still to be dyed. Next, other areas are waxed over; this is repeated during each phase of the coloring process, up to four or more times, until the overall pattern and effect are achieved.