Batik in Indonesia

Batik in Indonesia
Batik from Surakarta in Central Java province in Indonesia; before 1997
TypeArt fabric
MaterialCambrics, silk, cotton
Production processCraft production
Place of originIndonesia
Indonesian Batik
Batik craftswomen in Java drawing intricate patterns using canting and wax that are kept hot and liquid in a small heated pan,
on 27 July 2011
CountryIndonesia
Reference00170
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2009 (4th session)
ListRepresentative
Written batik (batik tulis) and stamped batik (batik cap)
Education and training in Indonesian Batik
Museum Batik Pekalongan, Central Java
CountryIndonesia
Reference00318
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2009 (4th session)
ListGood Safeguarding Practices

Batik plays multiple roles in the culture of Indonesia. The wax resist-dyeing technique has been used for centuries in Java, and has been adopted in varying forms in other parts of the country. Java is home to several batik museums.

On 2 October 2009, UNESCO inscribed written batik (batik tulis) and stamped batik (batik cap) as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity from Indonesia. Since then, Indonesia has celebrated a Batik Day (Hari Batik Nasional) annually on 2 October. In the same year, UNESCO recognized education and training in Indonesian Batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.