Batik Tulis Lasem

History

Lasem, a small district town in the east district of Rembang, Central Java, has a long history. Lasem once considered strategic by the flow of trade to be one lane starting point for opium. Lasem located on the north coast of Java island. Lasem is a number 2 big city in Rembang District in Central Java, the most eastern area. Lasem is also one of the old city in Central Java. Some said that once lasem was the first stopover of the China merchants on the island of Java. so as we meet a lot of buildings and the arts of chinese culture. There is a French tourist who called it the “Petit Chinois” or little China.

Lasem word originated from the Chinese language Lao-sam. In the city there are also lasem relics (petilasan) from one of a Wali Sanga which is said Sunan Bonang who came from China by the name Boong-ang. In 1740, Lasem which is located on the main route of north coast of Java became a place of Chinese resistance against the colonizer. Traces of Chinese culture that lived in the region hundreds of years still looks great in houses of Chinese architecture. It has the fence walls with thick teak doors, batik culture also can still be found and hereditary production to date. Chinese motifs with the dominant color of red, blue and green is strong batik characterize of the northern coast of Java. About 30 years ago batik Lasem had almost extinct, lost to Pekalongan batik, Solo and Yogyakarta. Along with the return of the trend of batik in Indonesia in recent years, with the characteristic motif of phoenix batik Lasem and started to tread bright chrysanthemums.

This also affects the influence of China on the motivational Lasem motif, for example motif in the currency, chrysanthemums, phoenix, or a love story Sam Pek Eng Tay, although there is also the motive of such kawung Jogjakarta or Surakarta, udan riris or machete. Batik Lasem which has a characteristic of red color of blood that can not be imitated by the batik outside Lasem. Batik Lasem now experiencing many setbacks, it is caused by many things, so that it can be said on the verge of extinction batik Lasem.

If you want the original batik, Rembang is the central district and has a long history of batik which is a heritage for generations developed and centralized in Lasem. Characteristic of coastal batik motif in Lasem has a unique pattern with the dominant color of red, green and blue.

Motifs that are developed, namely the seven countries motif pattern are white chicken pattern, white lava pattern, phoenix, chrysanthemums jasmine, scales of three colors, three colors of the universe, concrete kawung truntum tumpal lerek, brayo sunflower pattern, bledak chilli flower buds, and kendoro kendiri, as well as other motifs that are developed by each of the batik artisans.

While the selling price is quite variable, adjusted with fabric and level of difficulty in the process of manufacture and size.
Compared with batik print, the price is much more expensive, but wore batik patterned certainly has value as well as care for heritage.

Design Motifs of Batik Lasem

Chinese cultural influence is evident in the motifs of birds Hong, latticework, chrysanthemums, and liong. Motifs were created by Li Na Ni and characterize a very distinctive and unique batik Lasem until today.
Romance of Sam Pek Eng Tay, aka the classic legend of Chinese Affairs, had also become quite popular motifs in batik Lasem.

In addition to these motives, there are several names of famous batik Lasem motifs, such motifs Broken Stone, Naga Kricak, Piring Ceplok, Sekar Jagat, Kawung Lerek Sekar, as well as the Light of the Moon. Batik Lasem also has the effect of Solo and Yogyakarta batik motifs. Ornaments kawung and machetes Lasem often found in batik.

Natural Dye Batik Lasem

There are two types of color materials used by craftsmen, ie natural and synthetic dyes.
Natural dyes are made from animals and plants. Natural dyes from animals are usually taken from the sap of animal waste. However, Batik Lasem craftsmen rarely use the natural color of the animal. Batik Lasem craftsmen prefer natural dyes derived from plants. There are many types of plants are often used as a natural dye materials, including:
1. Indigo plant, from the leaves produce a blue color.

2. Soga tree, produces yellowish brown to reddish brown.

3. Perch plant, produces yellow color of the wood.

4. Jambal plant, from the bark of the tree produces red-brown color.

5.  Secang plant, from the bark produces a red color.

Natural dyes produce unique and beautiful Batik Lasem color. However, because the manufacturing process is complicated and inefficient, Batik Lasem craftsmen are now rarely uses natural dyes.

Name of Batik Lasem by Colour
Batik Lasem were often given names based on color. There are at least six popular name that links the dominance and the color combination with the identities Lasem Batik.

Batik Lasem Empat Negeri

Batik Lasem Empat Negeri, namely Batik Lasem which has at least 4 colors, especially the combination of Red + Blue / Green + Soga / Brown + Purple (violet).

Pagi Sore Empat Negeri Sekar Jagad.

 

Batik Lasem Tiga Negeri

Batik Lasem Tiga Negeri, namely Batik Lasem which has 3 colors, especially the color combinations of Red + Blue / Green + Soga / Brown.

Pagi Sore Tiga Negeri Sekar Jagad.

 

Batik Lasem Esthe

Batik Lasem Esthe is color combination of Blue / Green + Soga / Brown.

Esthe Lerek.

Batik Lasem Biron

Batik Lasem with a blue dominant color.

Batik Sekar Jagad Lasem Biron.

Batik Lasem Bang Biron

Batik Lasem color combination of Red and Blue.

Batik Lasem Bang Bangan

Batik Lasem with a dominant color of red.

Tips for Batik Care

The beauty of Batik Art Lasem (Batik Lasem) should always be maintained. Value of Batik Art artistic aesthetic should not be tarnished. The color and detail of the motives should not be defective, damaged due care.

It is not difficult to maintain the beauty of Batik Lasem, especially those already shaped fashion. There are standard troubleshooting tips that can be used to maintain the perfection of colors, motifs, and patterns of Batik Lasem. Here are tips on maintaining the beauty of Batik Lasem:

1. Wash by hand
Should be washed by hand, don’t use washing machine.

2. Use a mild soap / detergent
You can use mild detergent, shampoo, and  better if using “lerak”. Flavor of lerak fruit able to prevent the emergence of insects that can damage fabrics of batik.

3. Do not soak

Do not soak batik, as by soaking will diminish the motifs.

4. Do not brush
When washing fabrics Batik Lasem, do not brush it, wash by hand quite a while, and then rinsed.

5. Use orange skin
If it is difficult to remove stubborn stains with lerak, soap, and shampoo, you can use orange peel. Clean in stained sections only, not the entire surface of the fabric Batik Lasem.

6. Do not squeeze

Do not squeeze if you want to hang/dry out Batik Lasem fabric.

7. Do not hang under heat of sun
Batik Lasem should be dried in windy shade place . The purpose is that the color of batik is not easily fade.

8. Use a medium temperature
Use medium temperature if you want ironing batik clothes.

9. Do not spray fragrance
Do not spray fragrances or perfume directly into the batikc clothes, especially those made from silk with natural dyes.

10. Gogging flavor

If you want a distinctive aroma that smells natural, gogging with incense for 1-3 hours, to give the sweet flavor.

11. Do not fold
For cloth or gloves, stored in a way rolled up. In addition to maintaining the neat, in this way can avoid the occurrence of permanent damage to the folds of fabric, such as torn or rotted.

12. Use mothballs
Use mothballs to ward off moths attack and maintain conditions of the fabrics. In order not to tarnish the fabrics, input mothballs into the cotton or flannel cloth bag.

13. Use cloves and pepper.

Both of these herbs can be used to treat fabrics. Insert cloves into a bag or pepper cotton or flannel, and put it in the closet.

14. Every 3 months, move all clothing, fabrics and Batik sarong Lasem off the closet, especially those that are not used in a long time. This is good to protect from the moisture and musty smell.

Keywords:

• batik lasem
• batik lasem ijo
• batik tulis lasem
• motif sekarjagat tiga negri
• batik Rembang
• batik tulis
• batik making process
• batik lasem tulis
• pagi sori batik
• batik tulis tiga negeri

Related posts:

1. How to Take Care Batik Fabric
2. History of Batik
3. Pekalongan, the City of Batik