BATIK-- (HISTORY AND MAKING).

Batik -- Defination.

Batik is an ancient art form where fabrics are repeatedly inpragnated with molten wax designs and dipped in dye of different colours. The wax are then boiled to remove the wax, leaving the finished products.

Batik -- History.

This ancient tecnique of wax resist dyeing on fabric already existed in many areas in Asia long ago. In the 4th century BCE, Egytian mummies were wrapped with cloths soaked in wax and scratched with sharp tools to produce designs. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) of China, this technique was in practised too. In India and Japan too can be found that this practice existed during the Nara period (645-794 CE). Even in Africa the Yoruba Tribe of Nigeria and the Soninke and Wolaf of Senegals practised it too.

Its introduction to Java, Indonesia from India and Sri Lanka was during the 6th and 7th centuries. Regions like the Joraja, Flores, Halmahera and Papua too have a traditions of batik making. From Java, this art of batik making spread to the east coast states of Malaysia. To these days, this traditional art form of cloth dyeing is still widely practise in Kelantan, Trengganu and Pahang.

Batik -- Production Tecniques.

a. Canting (tjantingan tulis).




A canting is used to apply molten wax
on to the design. Places covered with
wax will not be dyed.




Different dyes are either brushed on
the fabrics or the fabrics soaked
 in tubs of dyes.



Soda salt is being sprinkle onto the dye
 and fabric to make the dye hold better
 to the cloth.

The design is drawn and then molten wax is applied on it using a canting (metal pen tool filled with hot wax). Colour dyes are then applied on the cloth. This process is done repeatedly until the desired result is achieved.        

The fabrics are soaked in tubs.

The fabrics are boiled
 to remove the wax.

b. Cap (block printing).

This process involves metal (soldered tin or copper) blocks with designs. These blocks are dipped in hot wax and hand stamped onto the fabrics. Coloured dyes are then applied over the fabrics. Later the wax are removed by boiling and the finished batik is the result.

c. Silk sceening (screen printing).

The fabric being
prepared for printing.

Screen printing.



The printed fabrics are then
hung up to dry, then to be
 waxed and dyed.

 This method is mostly used for mass production of batik for commercial use. The design is screen printed on and wax is applied to selected areas and then the fabrics are dyed to produce the desired product.