Batik Nyonyas: Three Generations of Art and Entrepreneurship

This publication explores the intertwined stories of three generations of Peranakan women — Nyonya Oeij Soen King, her daughter-in-law Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, and her granddaughter Jane Hendromartono — who established and sustained a batik-making legacy in Pekalongan, a historic centre for batik production on Java’s north coast. From the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century, these women navigated shifting political landscapes and cultural expectations to create a distinctive body of textile art while running a successful family business.

Batik Nyonyas highlights how each woman became a master of her craft, innovating within the batik tradition while responding to the evolving economic and social contexts of colonial and postcolonial Indonesia. Their works reflect a unique synthesis of Chinese, Javanese, and European influences, emblematic of Peranakan aesthetics and cultural hybridity.

Featuring essays by leading scholars and richly illustrated with photographs, batik samples, and archival material, this volume offers an in-depth look at the artistic, entrepreneurial, and cultural contributions of the Oeij family, while also shedding light on the often-overlooked role of women in the history of Southeast Asian textile production.

Publication Details:

• Authors: Peter Lee, Naomi Wang, Barbara Watson Andaya, Seng Guo-Quan, Didi Kwartanada, Lynn Chua, Miki Komatsu, Darryl Lim
• Publisher: Asian Civilisations Museum (2024)
• Language: English
• Format: Softcover with French flaps
• Page count: 204 pages
• Dimensions: 21 x 25 cm
• ISBN: 9789819408757

Condition:

• Book: New. Crisp and clean throughout.
• Jacket: No dust jacket as issued.