Headcloth (Iket Kepala)
Late 19th century
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; hand-drawn wax resist dyed (batik tulis)
Dimensions
106.8 × 106.5 cm (42 × 42 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
27434
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Here is another variant of the semen design favored at the central Javanese courts. The bodies of large-winged birds, referring to Garuda, along with smaller birds, fruit, and flowers, are arranged radially against a ground of finely dotted foliage and vines. The palette is dominated by the characteristic reddish-brown soga dye, made from the bark of the soga tree.
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...