A Royal Treasure: The Javanese Batik Collection of King Chulalongkorn of Siam

 
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A Royal Treasure

The Javanese Batik Collection of King Chulalongkorn of Siam

 

November 1, 2018 - May 31, 2021

 

A Royal Treasure: The Javanese Batik Collection of King Chulalongkorn of Siam is an exhibition dedicated to showcasing this collection and telling the story of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn’s three trips to Java and his fascination with batik. It presents exceptional examples of batik from His Majesty’s collection which have never been publicly displayed.

His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, r.1868-1910) was Siam’s first ruler to travel outside of the kingdom in peacetime. In 1871, at the age of just 17, the King visited Singapore and Java to observe modern technology and Western-style governance. This was in keeping with His Majesty’s goal to modernize Siam as well as to establish friendship between Siam, England and the Netherlands. After this brief first visit, His Majesty returned to Java on longer, private trips in 1896 and again in 1901.

The exhibition runs from 1 November 2018 to May 2021 in Galleries 3 and 4 at the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. There will be two additional complete rotations of all objects in the exhibition, please check the QSMT website for details after August 2019. The museum is open daily from 9 am. to 4 pm. 

 
 
 

Exhibition Preview

 

The batik designs from Pekalongan and Garut reflects muticultural societies.

Batiks from Surakarta were characterised by yellow-brown and dark blue.

The royal collection has 43 pieces of Yogyakarta batik produced by the famous Lawick van Pabst atelier, which His Majesty visited in 1896 and again in 1901.

The Sirikit batik pattern from Yogyakarta was named to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit during her state visit with His Majesty King Bhumibol in 1960.