Copper stamps like these two examples are known as caps (pronounced chaps), and were introduced into the Javanese batik industry in 1840. Their introduction, which revolutionised production, constituted a highly successful attempt to industrialise the distinctive and labour-intensive production of intricately patterned batiks by hand.

Prior to the introduction of caps, the hand-waxing of cloth for batik was carried out with a canting (pronounced chan-ting). This small tool has a copper spout with a reservoir for the hot wax set into a bamboo handle; the diameter of the spout varies to enable the artist to draw wax lines of different thickness. Patterning batik with a canting was very labour-intensive but ensured infinite design freedom. The use of the cap meant that cloth could be waxed with entire pattern elements in a single stamping. However, in addition to being much faster, the cap was also heavy, with the result that men entered the batik industry and changed it for ever from an entirely female home-based industry to a male-oriented factory one.

Caps like these were introduced in 1840 to increase the volume of batik textile production. A worker using a cap can wax 20 pieces a day compared to the 45 days needed to hand-wax a single piece of cloth.

Probably made in central Java, Indonesia, a primary centre for Javanese batik production.

The two caps were purchased in the early 1970s. They appear to have been heavily used so were probably made some twenty years previously.

The caps were bought in Java by the donor during a visit to Indonesia in 1973.

Stamps (caps) (2), for applying hot wax in the batik process, copper / iron, maker unknown, central Java, Indonesia, 1950 - 1955.

Two intricately patterned metal caps (chaps) or stamps, for printing patterns onto cloth in hot wax for making batik. The caps are of soldered construction, with a copper grid frame under which are soldered copper strips and pins in elaborate designs. The pins are very carefully aligned to form a completely flat surface for accurate printing. The caps have thin iron handles for manipulation.

The pattern of one cap, formed from fine circular-section pins, is a five-lobed leaf with short stalk. The other has two parallel bands of abstract patterning composed of closely-set design elements formed with tiny rectangular pins.

Designed: Java, Indonesia

Made: Java, Indonesia; 1940 - 1950

2002/55/4