Batik occupies a special place in Indonesian culture. Each fabric has a rich story to tell—as a reflection of the nation’s religious beliefs (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam), sophisticated court cultures and cosmopolitan history (that includes Chinese, Indian, Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences). The extraordinary textiles in this book are from the collections of Rudolf Smend and Donald Harper. Most date from the period 1880 to 1930 when the art of batik reached its apogee. The cloths are complemented by vintage photographs from the first quarter of the 20th century demonstrating how the batik were worn at court and at home. None of these photographs have been published before.
