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Skirt Cloth (Kain panjang)

A work made of cotton, plain weave; resist printed (batik).

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  • A work made of cotton, plain weave; resist printed (batik).

Date:

Second half of the 20th century

Artist:

Surakarta (Solo), Java, Indonesia

About this artwork

The crowned, serpent-like dragon repeated across the design of this cloth is the nāga—a supernatural symbol or deity that features in many South and Southeast Asian religious traditions. In Java, nāga is an underworld goddess associated with fertility and water. Men or women might wear this type of patterned skirt cloth for ceremonies at the kraton (palace), especially for festivals that honor her.

Surakarta is a historic royal capital (also known as Solo for its location next to the river of the same name) and a major center for batik, a wax-resist dye technique that originated in Java.

Status

On View, Gallery 142

Department

Textiles

Title

Skirt Cloth (Kain panjang)

Place

Surakarta (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1950–2000

Medium

Cotton, plain weave; resist printed (batik)

Inscriptions

Inscription: HKS

Dimensions

105.3 × 242.8 cm (41 1/2 × 95 5/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of E. M. Bakwin Indonesian Textile Collection

Reference Number

2002.964

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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