Main kinds of designs
Althought Central Java is the centre of Javanese Batik, the design evolves according to the part of
the region where it is manufactured. We are introducing the different kind of designs which are
related to the usage in the day-to-day life as well as in the celebrations and finaly their
characteristics by location as Yogyakarta, Surakarta or Solo, Pekalongan and Indramaju.
Kawung Prabu motif from Yogyakarta
There is two main kind of batik designs: geometric and non-geometric.
Classified under the geometric designs are
Diagonal or Parang motif
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Squares, rectangles crosses or Ceplok
and Kawung Weaving or Limar motifs
and the non-geometric:
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Semen
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Lunglungan
Buketan
Parang Rusak Barong
Parang Baris
Kawang Picus
Kawung Semar Motif
The designs are either geometric or freehand, sometime a combination of both could be found.
In the geometric patterns there are the Ceplokan, repetive designs, the Kawung, circular designs,
the Nitik or weaving designs, the Garis Miring, parallel diagonal designs, includes the very
popular Parang and finaly the Tumpal, triangular designs.
One of the oldest and popular ceplokan designs is the kawung which consists of parallel rows of
ellipses. Inside the ellipse appear crosses and ornaments such as lines or dots.
Here above are two examples of kawung . The first is a kawung sari and the second a kawung
picis (coin of 10 cent).