Batik Cloth From Beginning to End

In April 1936, L. A. Driessen, “Dir. der N.V. Leidsche katoenmij” donated six cloths in different stages of the batik process to the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden. To our knowledge, the cloths have since been stowed away in storage and kept out of sight. 86 years later, the wax has crumbled and the cotton almost feels like paper. No better time to show these cloths and zoom in on what they can still tell us.