The resist-dyeing process, whereby designs are made with wax on a fabric which is subsequently immersed in a dyed to absorb the colour on the un-waxed portions, is known as batik dyeing. It has been done in the Orient, notably India and to some extent in Japan, for many centuries. However, it is on the island of Java in Indonesia where the term “batik” originated and where high technical artistic skill of batik print really developed. Originally limited to execution by noblewomen, the technique is now a flourishing industry, particularly as a cottage industry where natives do batik dyeing in their small houses.
There are the methods. The technically more difficult and more artistic designs are drawn by hand. The patterns are generally in geometric, floral, bird or animal motifs, but the artist’s imagination may introduce other fanciful designs. The motif is drawn on cotton cambric. Then melted wax mixed with a resin is traced on the areas not to be dyed with a “canting”, which is a small instrument made of a short, straight reed handle to which is attached a small, funnel-shape copper cup with one or more spouts.
When the canting is refilled by scooping the hot, liquid wax from a copper pan kept over of burner, the worker blows into the spout to eliminate any blockage and allow to flow. The application of the wax must be done on both sides of the fabric. This hand method of making the design is a slow process, which may take as long as one month to produce 2,5 yards (2,3 metre). When an artist makes a large, individual picture which may be used for such purpose as wall hangings, it may take six months to one year to complete.
The faster method of designing is done with a “cap”, or stamp, of a pattern made of fine copper strips soldered together. The cap is pressed onto a pad of cloth saturated with liquid wax. The wax picked up by the stamp is then applied to the cambric. The design may be intricate, but it is repetitious and limited in artistic quality. However, about 25 to 40 yards (20 – 36 metre) of cloth can be printed in one day.
There are the methods. The technically more difficult and more artistic designs are drawn by hand. The patterns are generally in geometric, floral, bird or animal motifs, but the artist’s imagination may introduce other fanciful designs. The motif is drawn on cotton cambric. Then melted wax mixed with a resin is traced on the areas not to be dyed with a “canting”, which is a small instrument made of a short, straight reed handle to which is attached a small, funnel-shape copper cup with one or more spouts.
When the canting is refilled by scooping the hot, liquid wax from a copper pan kept over of burner, the worker blows into the spout to eliminate any blockage and allow to flow. The application of the wax must be done on both sides of the fabric. This hand method of making the design is a slow process, which may take as long as one month to produce 2,5 yards (2,3 metre). When an artist makes a large, individual picture which may be used for such purpose as wall hangings, it may take six months to one year to complete.
The faster method of designing is done with a “cap”, or stamp, of a pattern made of fine copper strips soldered together. The cap is pressed onto a pad of cloth saturated with liquid wax. The wax picked up by the stamp is then applied to the cambric. The design may be intricate, but it is repetitious and limited in artistic quality. However, about 25 to 40 yards (20 – 36 metre) of cloth can be printed in one day.
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