Real and faux-Batik

Batik is a technique where hot wax patterns are applied to cotton by using a wax pen (Canting), or stamp (Cap). That is the real technique.

However, in the 19th century, shipping large quantities of imitation batiks to Java was not at all unusual. The Dutch Trading Company did it, and so did independent cotton companies. These faux-batiks were often called ‘Batik Belanda’ (Dutch Batiks). These batiks were copies of the real, hand-made Batik Tulis, that were – and are – crafted on Java.

The Batik Belanda were known for their bad quality. The colors were off, the patterns were too crude and the paint often came out after one wash. For nearly the entire 19th century, several European cotton companies tried to bring their faux-batik skills up to the level that the local Java population would like them. With varying results.

Felix wrote all about it in his letters...