Unknown Maker, Javanese

This garis miring diagonal design incorporates two of the oldest known batik patterns: parang and kawung stripes. Both of these patterns were among those originally reserved for the royal courts of Central Java. This kain has no kepala (head) or patterned borders, only narrow white spaces around the edges. This style, called a kain seret (cloth with plain borders), was originally worn by women past the age of childbearing. In the early 20th century it was adopted by many Javanese as a symbol of high social status.