Made from natural dyes of red and brown, the kepala (head) section of this sarong is decorated with western motifs such as lovebirds perched on a branch and the border is decorated with scalloped lace edges. Diagonal floral motifs decorate the badan (body). This piece is signed by Mevr. B. Fisfer, a renowned Indo-European batik maker of the late 19th century. This sarong would have been worn with an open jacket known as the kebaya. Batik belanda (Duch) was popular with Eurasians in the Dutch East Indies from the mid 19h century and later with nyonyas as well. They were made between 1840-1940. Peranakan ladies wore batik skirtcloths of two formats: a tubeskirt (kain sarong) or skirtcloth (kain panjang). These were made mostly by Chinese, Eurasian or Arab batik makers on the north coast of Java in towns such as Lasem, Pekalongan and Cirebon.
