Description
Yogyakarta was once the capital of Java and home to a strong and vibrant royal family where batik making was held in high regard. There are many batik houses throughout the region often still specialising in traditional designs.
Combination of Tulis and Cap
Tulis is the premium style of batik where the entire design is applied by hand using a tool called a canting (pronounced chanting). It is a pen-like instrument made from a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle. The reservoir holds the hot wax which flows through the spout.
The cloth is then dipped in dye or the colour is painted on. After the cloth is dry the wax is removed by boiling the cloth. The areas treated with wax keep their original colour. This process is repeated as many times depending on how many colours are desired. The process can take days or even weeks for more complex designs and colours.
Batik Cap (pronounced chap). Hot wax is applied to the cloth using a copper stamp.
The cloth is then dipped in dye or the colour is painted on. After the cloth is dry the wax is removed by boiling the cloth. The areas treated with wax keep their original colour. This process is repeated as many times depending how many colours are desired. The process can take days or even weeks for more complex designs and colours.
Click here to see batik being made