Batik Lokcan (Ceremonial textile)

A dramatic silk batik shoulder-cloth (selendang) from Juana or Rembang on the north coast of East Java, hand-drawn with the quintessential motif of silk batiks—the bird known as lokcan—and dyed in indigo blue top-dyed with reddish-brown kayu tinggi on an ivory ground. The lokcan have 3 long tails that resemble multiple wings, giving them a mythical character, and are associated with the Chinese phoenix. They are surrounded by a wandering creeper connecting a wide variety of motifs—carnations (teardrop-shaped with spiky petals), passion fruit (larger, bisected motifs), horseshoe-shaped pods, 4-petalled flowers, leaves, and butterflies. Bearing flowers and large fruit. A large part of the textile’s beauty is its great length, accentuated by the rhythm of 4 pairs of more slender lokcan alternating with a single fatter one, and the flow of curving motifs down the cloth. Of particular note are the spiky extensions of the motifs, called ren (thorns), that give a striking, sharp character to the design, and complement the solid dark forms and curves of the motifs. The textile is finished at each end by a finely striped width that imitates a fringe, as well as an actual attached fringe.

NOTE: Image depicts folded textile

Technique: Hand-drawn batik (tulis), natural indigo and kayu tinggi dyes "

Condition: Fine with overall even wear, a few small holes

Date: ca early 20th century

Origin: Juana, Java, Indonesia

Material: Chinese silk

Technique: hand-drawn batik

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