Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-19
Batik Making Becoming An Art
~ frederic J. Haskin

washington. April 1s.-That bank
viii soon be accepted a. an Art IN TINS
country II propheSied by J. r. Nelish'
batik maker Of this city.
Most OF us have seen vivid samples
OF bat!k, which We were told were
made by drawing T. design on ma
terial with wax and dipping tho piece
in dye 10 color tho part unprotected
tv wax. We understood that this was
high Javanese art and that nso"
for II should be cultivated.
Now, II seems. tho most starti'ns
mItbursts OF color arc not necessariiy
tho most admirable. In fact. th"y
represent an early phase OF Amcrl-
can batik mskers attempts Ak nye'hs
| In tho Jayanese fashion.
Until recsntiy, Mr, NsIiKh says. tho
fate OF batik In this country has hung
In the balance. Artists and connos-
seurs waited 10 SEQ IL nashy, futurisuc
designs. displayed as typically JaVah-
ESQ bntlk. would be rspinced by moro
sub,ls work. There was danger. 100
Of bstik becoming a porch fad, hhe
I baskstry and bead chains IL this
( fate we're 20 befall. and bat'k were TO
/ DO made Dy persons with no under-
standing Of technique. color, or os-
sign, then tho process would be per
rnanenily reiesated 10 tho pinns OF
fancy work. /. would have It's dsy Of
favor and retire.
! Luckily for batik and rs defenders
lits production bas proved a httis TOO
difficult and too eraoting 20 attract
many fadais,s. Luckily. TOO, crafts
men who were turning out snocks
scarfs. and lannpshaces Ia hashec
rainbow effects eventually began q
atalyrb Javansse traditions. which
called for softer coiors and clean cut
lines. The suoescs Of our most skill
I'd batiksrs Is indicated by the fac
rna, they often re1vs orders for
their work from abroad.
I Cnehis Effects Passing.
A recent exhibition os bas,k dressei
made by a New York artist war sur
prise oven 70 some visitors Who talk
ed lenrncfly os crsckis effects and al
! tnired ths right points IN tbs Designs
The things that surprised them wa
tha. thes. dresses were suits bIe 10
q wear on tho street In most eases
= only the sleeves were decorated wit
tho dyed designs. and tho clear pat
terms in beautiful color combination
were no moro conspicuous than trim
? mings Of delicately figured printe
= silks would have been. This, IL wa
y agreed. wss a standard for America
batlk
=, In this exhibition there was vel
little Of the popular crackle effec
!. produced by letting the wax on
design crack 30 that the colors n
o through 80 in thin veins. Crackle HI
!, been so prevalent IN American BATH
! that many people regard II as a su
= test Of real batik. The Javanese, ho'
= ever. regard cracking OF the wax
te a flaw. because IL may occur wftho
the artists wish IL the cloth Ia II
~ handled with care to prevent the "
G. from breaking. Javanese dyers u
10 the effect only occasionally when Z
l. design is IN colors that do not harmo
o. izs readily, and so used Il as u
doubtedly artistic.
r. have been decorating their clothi
2. with palnstaktng caro-. using Z
Is msthod OF wax dyeing. Tho meth
Of has been often described The m
%, important processes are tho wax
s. OF tho design and tho dipping.
of Ordinarily, a little pipe like q
ce called a tjantins. Is used for waxi
Thu hnuy1 zN~ - "a & -
,e- melted wax and the instrument
a guided over the material so that II
ms tiny spout in the bowl wax Is DO
he ed out in the lines or figures of
-ce pattern.
N Jayanese Process Reversed.
raj Tina ravana.. s,- .,.-
the darker color hrst, and remov
color where Il IS not wanted by
water or ammonia. Western bath
reverse the process, making u einr
II white. yellow. and green are
coiors to be used. wax Is first pot
over the part OF the material whic
to be left white. Ths piece Is :
dipped IN yellow dye. Then that
Of the design which is TO remain
II low u covered with wax and the e,
Is dipped In blue dye 70 produce gr
The wax is removed by gasoline.
II The processes OF batiking hay,
the Javanese all the dignity Of an
They resent limitations and do
look with favor on dyed patterns
duced by speed making contrIvar
Even though similar patterns are !
over and over. the Designers put nc
thing OF their own individuality
II them.
Some OF the old designs are "a
to certain ranks and are made =
cialiy for them. Hunting scenes.
instance, are reserved for ROY;
Such pieces, done by the best +
makers In Java. are not simple al
OF cloth with a conventionaIize,i
and hound repeated at strict IN
walls. A batik OF this sort often
tains only one large picture and
effect Is like that OF "a tapestry.
The Javanese take batik sarr
AZ a matter OF course. Ths vv,,r
much cheaper there than here
the native clothing is simpl. O.,
NJ