Batik Lasem

If people mention the batik of Central Java ( Indonesia), They - immediately - called Solo and Pekalongan or Jogjakarta. In fact, in addition to the two regions still have other areas that also produce batik that is not less beautiful, the Lasem City. About 12 kilometers east of the city this extent Rembang 45.04 square kilometers with a population of approximately 44,879 people (Litbang Kompas, 2003).

BATIK Lasem figured typical production, especially the color of “red”, color that resembles the blood of chickens, which they say can not be imitated by Batik maker in other regions. Uniqueness lies in the other design which is a combination of the influence of Chinese culture, local culture northern coastal communities, and cultural palace (Surakarta and Yogyakarta). Perhaps the Chinese foreign traders who came to give Lasem large influence on the style batik in this area.

In the heyday of batik Lasem, almost every house where Chinese people live in this area undertake make batik with and recruit staff from around the village. They generally do this job as a sideline while waiting to harvest and planting season on the paddy fields. When creating the design motif for their batik production, the entrepreneur of making batik of Lasem influenced cultural beliefs as their ancestors and legend. Variety ornamental birds and animals “hong” legendary kilin (such as lions) and so they enter into their motives batik production. In fact, the classic Chinese love story as Sam Pek Eng Tay was batik motif in this region.

No surprise then when batik production Lasem is often referred to as "Encim." "Encim" is a hybrid for the Chinese women who have advanced age. Besides the influence of culture of Yogyakarta and Surakarta palace also seen in the batik motifs Lasem, among other ornaments on “kawung”, “chopper” and so on. While the influence of culture on the coastal look that bright colors like red, blue, yellow and green. Batik Lasem, in heyday been exported to foreign countries, among others, to Suriname.

Batik Lasem can compete with batik from other regions because of motifnya interesting with fine quality fabrics, also red blood chicken the characteristic can not be imitated by batik maker from otherregions. However, if you now come to explore Lasem and batik production Lasem, especially batik with traditional motifs Lasem, you will have difficulties like the search for antiques only.

Nowdays it's difficult to find Batik Lasem because who produce batik Lasem many roll mats. Of about 140 entrepreneurs in the batik 1950s, then declining to around 70 operators in 1970, and now live only about 12 people who still strive in making Batik. That still survive is also a lot of business "Monday-Thursday." Then, just when it is said batik Lasem endangered. Around half a century ago are still many families we met in Lasem City become a batik businessman , or at least become a trader who takes batiks from batik maker in around small villages. Now they are no longer active in making batik business, batik shops are making their notions store. Tools of making batik left in dusty corner of a room in the back of the house or in the warehouse used to store goods. "Business batik Lasem always been glorious, but now not anymore. In fact, the situation increasingly lethargic, "said Ir Rudy Hartono (33), a former businessman who now Lasem batik shop opening peddler selling electronic goods and household needs in the consumer goods fishermen. Even if the kitchen washing batik cloth is still visible behind the house, a tool to make batik no longer see themselves as already stored in the warehouse.

Many factors caused a decline in batik business in Lasem. "Batik Lasem are bewildered. The next generation to be on the wane batik business because of the higher education and they did not want to dive in the batik business. They prefer to work or do business on the other according to their knowledge acquired in universities, "said Poernomo Maskoen (52), a batik Lasem. In addition, add Poernomo, the energy of batik maker also reduced. Children's after graduating high school level first / top does not follow his parents into pembatik but working in offices in major cities such as Surabaya and other. Thus, energy pembatik not have a resume. Because the labor pembatikan generally hereditary, the work is primarily farmers or farm worker in the home, when the harvest season and planting season they returned to the village rice fields. As a result of batik does not take place smoothly. Sons of the craftsman with a stock certificate that they are looking for work in the office, factory or store, with the hope to get higher wages from the wages as batik craftsman. As wage batik laborers around Rp 7,500 per day plus meals at the workplace. In addition srunk due to the number of people do batik business, both as entrepreneurs and as a crafter, business batik Lasem decline also caused flooding sablon batik or batik printing (printing).

"Technology sablon consecutive shut batik Lasem. Batik sablon price of Rp 25,000 per sheet, much cheaper than the price of batik reach hundreds of dollar per sheet, "said Sigit Wicaksana, batik Lasem businessman who now try to survive in order to provide employment to employees who live a few people. According to Sigit, the pirates of batik also participated in efforts to make batik Lasem increasingly lethargic. Lack of capital worsen the life of a business batik Lasem in the family business, which is hereditary. According Poernomo Maskoen, people now often use a good fabric but prefer to wear skirt because the practical use on the side of the skirt material is cheaper than batik cloth. These conditions also create a succession in business batik Lasem. What Lasem batik will be marginalized continue to disappear and live goods, so memories can be viewed at the museum? Holder of the authority may determine the policy, owners of capital, and lovers of batik can be answered.
(original author : SN Wargatjie,) Kompas Cetak, Jakarta translated by Heru SIf people mention the batik of Central Java- Indonesia, They immediately called Solo and Pekalongan. In fact, in addition to the two regions still have other areas that also produce batik that is not less beautiful, the Lasem City. City district in District Rembang about 12 kilometers east of the city this extent Rembang 45.04 square kilometers with a population of approximately 44,879 people (Litbang Kompas, 2003). BATIK Lasem figured typical production, especially the color of “red”, color that resembles the blood of chickens, which they say can not be imitated by Batik Maker other regions. Uniqueness lies in the other design which is a combination of the influence of Chinese culture, local culture northern coastal communities, and cultural palace (Surakarta and Yogyakarta). Perhaps the Chinese foreign traders who came to give Lasem large influence on the style batik in this area.

In the heyday batik Lasem, almost every house where Chinese people live in this area undertake make batik with and recruit staff from around the village. They generally do this job as a sideline while waiting to harvest and planting season on the paddy fields. When creating the design motif for their batik production, the entrepreneur of making batik of Lasem influenced cultural beliefs as their ancestors and legendanya. Variety ornamental birds and animals hong legendary kilin (such as lions) and so they enter into their motives batik production. In fact, the classic Chinese love story as Sam Pek Eng Tay was batik motif in this region. No surprise then when batik production Lasem batik is often referred to as "Encim." "Encim" is a hybrid for the Chinese women who have advanced age. Besides the influence of culture of Yogyakarta and Surakarta palace also seen in the batik motifs Lasem, among other ornaments on kawung, chopper and so on. While the influence of culture on the coastal look that bright colors like red, blue, yellow and green. Making batik, in Lasem indeed been developing a hit. Sigit Wicaksono (74), the batik business Lasem pembatikan that way since around 1942, said, batik Lasem in heyday been exported to foreign countries, among others, to Suriname.
Batik Lasem can compete with batik from other regions because of motifnya interesting with fine quality fabrics, also red blood chicken the characteristic can not be imitated by batik maker from otherregions. However, if you now come to explore Lasem and batik production Lasem, especially batik with traditional motifs Lasem, you will have difficulties like the search for antiques only. Nowdays it's difficult to find Batik Lasem because who produce batik Lasem many roll mats. Of about 140 entrepreneurs in the batik 1950s, then declining to around 70 operators in 1970, and now live only about 12 people who still strive pembatikan. That still survive is also a lot of business "Monday-Thursday." Then, just when it is said batik Lasem endangered. Around half a century ago are still many families we met in Lasem City become a batik businessman , or at least become a trader who takes batiks from batik maker in around small villages. Now they are no longer active in making batik business, batik shops are making their notions store. Tools of making batik left in dusty corner of a room in the back of the house or in the warehouse used to store goods. "Business batik Lasem always been glorious, but now not anymore. In fact, the situation increasingly lethargic, "said Ir Rudy Hartono (33), a former businessman who now Lasem batik shop opening peddler selling electronic goods and household needs in the consumer goods fishermen. Even if the kitchen washing batik cloth is still visible behind the house, a tool to make batik no longer see themselves as already stored in the warehouse.

Many factors caused a decline in making batik Lasem. "Batik Lasem are bewildered. The next generation to be on the wane batik business because of the higher education and they did not want to dive in the batik business. They prefer to work or do business on the other according to their knowledge acquired in universities, "said Poernomo Maskoen (52), a batik Lasem. In addition, add Poernomo, the energy of batik maker also reduced. Children's after graduating high school level first / top does not follow his parents into pembatik but working in offices in major cities such as Surabaya and other. Thus, energy pembatik not have a resume. Because the labor pembatikan generally hereditary, the work is primarily farmers or farm worker in the home, when the harvest season and planting season they returned to the village rice fields. As a result of batik does not take place smoothly. Sons of the craftsman with a stock certificate that they are looking for work in the office, factory or store, with the hope to get higher wages from the wages as batik craftsman. As wage batik laborers around Rp 7,500 per day plus meals at the workplace. In addition srunk due to the number of people do batik business, both as entrepreneurs and as a crafter, business batik Lasem decline also caused flooding sablon batik or batik printing (printing).

"Technology sablon consecutive shut batik Lasem. Batik sablon price of Rp 25,000 per sheet, much cheaper than the price of batik reach hundreds of dollar per sheet, "said Sigit Wicaksana, batik Lasem businessman who now try to survive in order to provide employment to employees who live a few people. According to Sigit, the pirates of batik also participated in efforts to make batik Lasem increasingly lethargic. Lack of capital worsen the life of a business batik Lasem in the family business, which is hereditary. According Poernomo Maskoen, people now often use a good fabric but prefer to wear skirt because the practical use on the side of the skirt material is cheaper than batik cloth. These conditions also create a succession in business batik Lasem. What Lasem batik will be marginalized continue to disappear and live goods, so memories can be viewed at the museum? Holder of the authority may determine the policy, owners of capital, and lovers of batik can be answered.
(original author : SN Wargatjie, Kompas Cetak, Jakarta, translated (free translated) by Heru S)