Unknown Maker, Javanese

The designs on these two square textiles are variations on the semen style. This Central Javanese style incorporates mountains, temples, plant tendrils, small birds and animals, and the single-wing (far) or wings-and-tail (sawat) motifs that refer to a mythical bird, the garuda. These elements are combined by batik artists in a seemingly endless variety of compositions. Semen compositions were originally reserved for use only by the Central Javanese nobility.