Ceremonial Hip Wrapper (Dodot)
Late 19th century
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; hand-drawn wax resist dyed (batik tulis); two panels joined
Dimensions
345.1 × 209.6 cm (135 5/8 × 82 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
24152
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Ths batiks of the central Javanese courts at Yogyakarta and Surakarta (also known as Solo) dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries consistently display certain features. They reveal a range of patterns restricted to the court, including the semen design (indicating sprouting and fertility) seen here, that presents elements of the Javanese cosmic universe—animals, birds, plants, scrolling vines, mountains, and pavilions. The wings of the mythological bird Garuda (see detail below), mount of...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...