[MR] Batik

[Betty Eyer]

It depends upon your definition of period and "batik".


Europeans in period did not do that kind of surface
decoration of fabric.  There was some resist printing
techniques late period, but I dont think anyone would
call that batik.  Some northern african surface
decorations could be called batik, but there are very
few proofs of existance in period that you could use
and they have a very distinctive decorative style. I
have the same problem trying to document tie-dye, one
of my pet projects.

So, batik as most people think of it is a middle and
far eastern technique and most documentable batik
examples are late period Indian.  Beware of using more
modern indian samples as documentation of decorative
styles because most of the more modern stuff is
printed, not hand painted and thus not applicable.
Look for paintings of people with batik clothing and
actual textile samples. I think that you can also
document Japanese use of batik in period, although
there are tons of Japanese resist methods, so read
carefully. 

Most of the batik that is sold in the US is from
Indonesia, because they are the only ones still doing
it cheaply.  They use very distinctive dyes, printing
processes and patterns that would be hard if not
impossible to argue as period.   

SOOOOO, what am I saying? If your question is "I want
to do batik cause I think it is fun, can I document it
and put it in an A&S competion?" then the answer is
yes, go for a far eastern documentation source.  If
your question is "Can I wear batik?" then the answer
is "Only if your persona is late period non
European.".  And if the question is "I got this cool
bit of batik fabric from Singapore, can I do something
period with it?", then the answer is "Yes, make a
summer dress out of it and wear it to a mundane garden
party". 

My 2 cent. Make mine a nice merlot, I'm allergic to
grains and hops. 


--- Gina MacNeill <ladyrhi at msn.com> wrote:
> Barkeep, I have a question for the patrons of this
> fine establishment!
> 
> Is Batik "period"?
> 


=====
Magdalena de Hazebrouck-Purpure, a fess fusilly argent between three torches or. While Joshua was near Jericho, he raised his eyes and saw one who stood facing him, drawn sword in hand.  Joshua went up to him and asked "Are you one of us or of our enemies?" He replied, "Neither.  I am the captain of the host of the Lord and I have just arrived in this valley." Joshua 5, 13-14.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Find a job, post your resume.
http://careers.yahoo.com