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In 1989 I worked in Central Java for several months, during this time I became fascinated by Cap Batik.
There are several different ways of making batik, this webpage concentrates on making batik using stamps to apply the wax. A "cap" is a stamp. "Cap batik" is a stamp for making batik, as opposed to "batik cap" which is batik made using "cap". In Bahasa Indonesia the "c" is pronounced as "ch". These cap are made from hundreds of pieces copper arranged to create a picture or pattern. The cap are a work of art in themselves. The cap are dipped into hot wax and stamped on to the material in the same way one might use a rubber stamp and ink pad. The material is then dipped into dye. The dye stains the cloth except where the wax has been stamped, as the dye can not penetrate. The cloth is then washed to remove the wax and is left with an unstained pattern which replicates the cap. This is the basic process, it may be complicated by repeated waxing and dyeing with other colours to create more complex patterns and colours. |
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Bird of Paradise & a Fighting Cock These blocks are approximately 20 x 13 cm, (8" x 5"). |
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Bird Cap This bird is approximately 23cm, (9"), top to bottom. Butterly Cap This butterfly is one of my favourites. This cap is approximately 20cm, (8"), wide. |
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Often the cap come in matched pairs, a right-handed cap and a left-handed cap. This allows the finished product to be symetrical. These cap are approimately 10cm, (4"), high. |
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A floral matched pair. These cap are approximately 24cm, (9.5"), from top to bottom. These two cap are among the cap in the photo at the top. |
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Another floral matched pair. These cap are approximately 24cm, (9.5"), from top to bottom. |
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A Floral Cap Flowers are one the most popular themes for cap. This block is approximately 15 x 13 cm, (6" x 5"). |
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Some patterns are primarily geometric. This block is approximately 18 x 18 cm, (7" x 7"). |
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Bull's Head This block is approximately 18 x 18 cm, (7" x 7"). |
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Borders For borders there are cap which are stamped so that they join together to give a long linear pattern. These cap are approximately 20cm, (8"), wide. |
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Batik Cap Table cloth. This picture shows a quarter of a table cloth produced using cap batik. |
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Batik Cap Table cloth. Another quarter of a table cloth produced using cap batik. |
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A Batik Cap Workshop in Yogya
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| 'Tulis' means pen. This batik is made by drawing with a wax filled pen, or 'canting' before dyeing, but that is another story :-) |
Copyright Peter Loud 1988 - 2010
No part of these Web pages
may be reproduced without written permission from Peter Loud,
but you are welcome to create a link, from your web pages, to:
"Maps of Indonesia by Peter Loud",
www.peteloud.co.uk/indonesia/
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For further information contact Peter Loud 
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