Library

National and International Publications on SEA Textiles

BATIK, 75 selected pieces from the Rudolf Smend Collection

Author: Rudolf Smend, 2006. 179pg. (German & English)
Publisher: Galerie Smend, Cologne, Germany

The book offers an overview of batik production in Java, serving as a valuable resource for collectors, students, and textile enthusiasts. It includes contributions from Isa Fleishman-Heck, who discusses the introduction of Javanese batiks to Germany, as well as Maria Wronska-Friend and Donald J. Harper.

BATIK, DRAWN IN WAX

Author: Itie van Hout (editor), 2001, 208pg. (English). Hardcover. Catalog
Publisher: Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam

The book was published in conjunction with the exhibition entitled “200 Years of Batik Art from Indonesia”. The book details Indonesian batik traditions based on a collection of historical pieces from the Tropen Museum Amsterdam. It features essays and photographs on various types of Indonesian batik, including Java, Madura and Jambi, as well as those influenced by European and Japanese styles. The publication includes insightful essays and numerous high quality photographs of the batik pieces. The appendices include list of identified names in Pekalongan area, Chinese genealogies, a Bibliography and a list of objects.

BATIK, FABLED CLOTH OF JAVA

Author: Inger McCabe Elliott, 2004, 239pg. (English), Softcover
Publisher: Periplus Editions, Hongkong

This volume constitutes a seminal contribution to the study of batik, marking a significant milestone in the historiography of textile arts. Authored by Inger McCabe Elliott, it guides the reader on a captivating exploration of Java’s northern littoral, elucidating the intricate interplay of customs, cultural practices, and artisanal mastery that imbue this “magic cloth” with enduring distinction. Lavishly produced and now regarded as a classic reference, the book is enriched with sumptuous color plates showcasing exemplary antique and contemporary batik drawn from thirty museums and private collections worldwide. Its scope extends from the royal courts of Yogyakarta and Cirebon to the coastal centers of Pekalongan, Surabaya, and Lasem. Complementing these visual treasures are historical photographs, etchings, engravings, maps, and modern depictions of Java, thereby situating batik within both its historical continuum and contemporary resonance. The work is the culmination of years of meticulous collecting and immersive field research by a distinguished photojournalist whose encounter with the batik traditions of Java’s north coast proved transformative, altering the trajectory of her life and scholarship.

BATIK, Traditional Textiles of Indonesia: From the Rudolf Smendt and Donald Harper Collection.

Author: Rudolf Smend et al. 2016. 176 pg. (English)
Publisher: Tuttle & Smend Gallery, Cologne, Germany

This book is part of a series focused on Indonesian batik, featuring pieces that have never been published before. Smendt has invited many batik enthusiasts from his generation to share their expertise and passion for batik within its pages.

BATIK. Hansen Thiam Sun Collection

Author: Hermawati Wiriadinata, 2010. 107pg. (Indonesian and English)
Publisher: Unknown

This book decisively showcases batiks from the northern coast of Central Java, particularly from the Kedungwuni area in Pekalongan. It highlights the collector’s deep passion for batiks created by Indo-Chinese and Indo-Dutch studios, which span a significant period from the late 18th century to the first half of the 19th century. The book thoroughly examines various pieces from this region, emphasizing both the signed batiks from Pekalongan and the unsigned ones.

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