Author: Oetari Siswomihardjo-Prawirohardjo. 2011. 110pg. (In Indonesian)
Publisher: Pustaka Pelajar, Yogyakarta
The author strongly believes that the spiritual values represented by classic motifs in Javanese batik are at risk of being forgotten by the younger generation due to a disconnect from their heritage. This break in tradition has resulted in a loss of the spiritual message associated with these motifs. The book aims to present these spiritual values through illustrations and an exploration of the philosophies behind them.
Author: Hempri Suyatna, William Kwan, Dyah Rosiana, and Dewi Meiyani, 2010. 96pgs. (Indonesian). Softcover
Publisher: Institut Pluralisme Indonesia
This booklet offers a nuanced portrait of the daily life of batik artisans in Lasem and Rembang. The exploration of the Lasem batik industry is both compelling and significant, as Lasem was historically renowned for its exquisitely crafted textiles, predominantly produced by Indo-Chinese batikkers. The authors begin by tracing the early development of batik production in this region, situating it within broader socio-economic and cultural contexts. Traditionally, batik workers in Lasem emerged from agrarian communities. Many were impoverished farmers residing in the surrounding villages who engaged in batik-making only intermittently, typically during the intervals between rice planting and harvesting seasons. This dual livelihood underscores the precarious economic conditions of rural households and highlights the adaptive strategies employed to sustain their existence. Within this booklet, the authors present a vivid ethnographic account of batik workers’ lives, examining not only their craft but also the intricate social relations that bind batikkers to batik traders. These relationships reveal the dynamics of labor, commerce, and cultural transmission in the region. Furthermore, the text addresses the pressing challenges faced by the community in preserving the continuity of Lasem’s batik tradition amidst shifting economic realities and cultural transformations.
Author: Francesca Leoni et al 2016, 104pg. (English). Softcover. Catalog
Publisher: Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
The volume Power and Protection serves as a scholarly companion to an exhibition that investigated the profound role of divinatory and talismanic practices within the Islamic world from the twelfth through the twentieth centuries. This work illuminates the intricate interplay between spirituality, material culture, and the pursuit of metaphysical guidance, presenting more than one hundred exemplary objects of Islamic art. Among these are astrological charts, dream manuals, amulets, and talismanic garments, each of which functioned as instruments of protection, channels of divine insight, and tangible manifestations of belief. Collectively, these artifacts underscore the enduring significance of esoteric knowledge and protective symbolism in shaping religious, cultural, and intellectual life across centuries of Islamic civilization.
Author: Susan Conway – Editor: Jane Puranananda, 2003. 75pgs. (English). Softcover.
Publisher: The James H.W. Thompson Foundation, Bangkok
The exhibition presents an array of intricately woven and meticulously embroidered textiles, accompanied by regalia of exceptional craftsmanship produced by highly skilled artisans. These objects functioned as symbolic tokens of tribute and as instruments of diplomatic exchange among royal households. The prestige and authority of individual rulers were intimately tied to the adornment and public display of these coveted artifacts, which served not only as markers of status but also as embodiments of political legitimacy and cultural capital.
Author: Josephine Atkinson & Liecien de Guise, (editor), 2009. (English). Softcover
Publisher: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Although collectors care about their artefacts as much as museums do, they do not have the facilities to treat them as they deserve With “Practical Conservation” the museum aims to brings the expertise of the museum conservators to a wider audience. To enable future generations to enjoy a collection, this book will show how to care for your valuable treasures.
Page 58 of 89