Types of Batik Archives - PREMIUM HAND-PAINTED BATIK

Types of Batik Fabrics You Really Must Know

Batik is a type of traditional cloth from Indonesia with a distinctive pattern, which is made using a special technique. Batik, which has been considered a valuable cultural icon in Indonesia, is actually made using a variety of different techniques. Reporting from various sources, here are several types of batik according to the manufacturing technique.

Batik According to Manufacturing Techniques

Written Batik

Hand-written batik is a type of batik that is made manually by hand with a canting tool to apply wax to the batik pattern. Making written batik requires a lot of patience and diligence because every point in the motif affects the final result. The motives generated in this way will not be exactly the same. This complexity causes the price of written batik to be very expensive. This type of batik is worn by kings, palace officials and nobles as a symbol of luxury.

Batik Cap

Stamped batik is a type of batik made using a stamp or a kind of stamp with a batik motif made of copper. Cap is used to replace the function of the canting so as to shorten the production time. Stamped batik motifs are considered to have less artistic value because all the motifs are exactly the same. The price of stamped batik is quite cheap because it can be made en masse.

Painting Batik

Painting batik is a type of batik made by depicting motifs using wax on white cloth. The making of painted batik motifs is not fixated on the standard of existing batik motifs. The motif is made according to the wishes of the painter. This painted batik has an expensive price because it is classified as exclusive batik and the number is limited.

Batik Based on the Manufacturing Trend

Traditional Batik

Traditional batik is a cultural art in the form of lines and dots writing patterns so that they form the same unique and distinctive motifs and patterns. An example of traditional batik is Cirebon batik. The motifs used in Cirebon batik are specifically those originating from the Cirebon area only, and may not use motifs from other regions.

In addition, traditional types of batik are also made longer than modern types of batik. Batik is made by writing. Forming batik motifs are lines and dots. The arrangement of motifs and colors is adjusted to the patterns formed from lines and dots. The process of making batik is longer. Higher artistic value.

Modern Batik

Modern batik is a type of batik whose techniques and manufacturing process do not take long. Therefore, modern batik has a lower price and is very easy to find on the market with similar motifs. Its manufacture does not take long. Motives adapted to the movement of the times. Its aesthetic value is determined by conformity with the latest fashion. The spread of batik is more and more widespread. Prices are much cheaper and affordable than traditional batik.

Batik Motifs With Popular Geometric Ornaments From The Land Of Java

The development of batik in Indonesia is not only in terms of production, but also in terms of motifs and patterns. Many new motifs with more attractive colors then emerged, adapting to the area where the new batik originated.

In Java itself, there are several groups of batik motifs with popular geometric decorations, namely Ceplok, Kawung, Nitik, and Parang, quoting from the publication uny.ac.id. These four motifs are most often found and sold in the market.

Batik Motif Ceplok

Ceplok batik motif is a type of batik that is popular and quite easy to find. The decorative motifs of the Ceplok group’s batik motifs always have a symmetrical element to their motifs. Some ceplok are formed from crossed lines that form circles, stars, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, triangular shapes (tumpal) and other shapes arranged in a line arrangement.

The Ceplok motif is often combined with various other motifs to get a more beautiful motif. For example, the Garuda image on the Broken Parang Batik motif, this motif can be called the Parang Broken Ceplok Garuda motif

Parang Motif Batik

Parang motif batik is the second most popular type of batik found and sold. The motif on parang batik consists of 2 alternating fields. The inclined plane between the Parang fields is called Slope. Lines resembling the letter S intertwined symbolize continuity. This form is taken from the waves rolling and hitting the rocks, meaning hard work and enthusiasm that never goes out.

The Slope or Parang pattern is made by drawing squares that are placed in a row with a slope of approximately 45 degrees to the left or right. The size of each box is adjusted to the needs of the motif image.

In the field of Parang, various Parang lines can be made which give rise to various Parang names and their meanings. For example, the Parang Klithic has a small machete line, which means that the wearer has a gentle and wise behavior.

Kawung Motif Batik

Kawung motif batik is the third type of batik that is commonly found. The Kawung motif is a circular geometric ornament that is aligned and stacked so that it forms an elliptical piece. The Kawung pattern is inspired by the shape of a palm fruit that is halved in four. The four parts of the fruit together with the core represent the four major directions (directions) in Buddhism.

In ancient times, it was said that the Kawung pattern was reserved for nobles and royalty. There are various forms of Kawung patterns with different names, for example Kawung Beton, Kawung Picis, Kawung Prabu, Kawung Brandy, and others. Making patterns on cloth by drawing equilateral checkered lines in a horizontal or diagonal position. Each of those squares is filled with a Kawung shape.

Batik Motif Nitik

Nitik motif batik is the fourth most popular type of batik. Nitik consists of criss-cross lines and is arranged as a square arrangement. The Nitik batik pattern consists of dots and short rectangular lines. Nitik, which is always drawn simply symmetrically, may have been the best image. With the changing times, nitik is a fun motif and can develop because it has good added value.

Viewed from a technical point of view, Nitik is considered one of the oldest batik arts. The way to make a Nitik pattern is by drawing equilateral checkered lines with a horizontal or diagonal position of 45 degrees. After drawing the basic pattern, the batik motif is made using a special canting. Nitik’s special canting has a rectangular beak at the end.