1982.285 Tubular skirt

On the body (badan), diagonal rows of two different sword (parang) designs alternate with bands of squares containing abstract floral images. The sword motif is associated with kris, a men's ritual knife, believed to have magical powers. Once reserved for royalty in Central Java, this design was later worn by non-royalty and then adopted for north coast batik and worn by both men and women. 

The head (kepala) has rows of short and long triangles (tumpal) on either side of a central vertical line of diamonds. Broad strips filled with stylized Garuda bird motifs (referencing the Hindu god Vishnu's mount) and beige flowers on an indigo background frame the head. The gandawari (sweetly wafting smell) border, above and below the head, is traditionally a symbol of marriage. 

The rigidity of the images suggests that the batik was created with a stamp. The blackish areas result from overlapping soga brown and indigo dyes. 

Before 1930: the sister of Paul van Katwijk, collected in Java

n.d.: Jerry and Mary Bywaters, Dallas 

From 1982: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Jerry and Mary Bywaters in memory of Paul and Viola van Katwijk [1]

The main source for this provenance is the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts Acquisitions Checklist dated February 4, 1983, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records object file. 

[1]  The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

Apply to objects where number equals 1982.285