This cotton batik square, originating from Indonesia circa 1930, is a significant historical specimen from the textile collection of Dr. Charles E. Mullin. As a chemist specializing in fabric dyes, Dr. Mullin assembled this collection during his travels across Asia in the late 1920s and early 1930s, prioritizing pieces that demonstrated unique regional dyeing techniques. Measuring 41 inches by 41 inches (104 cm x 104 cm), the textile features a minimalist, elegant aesthetic typical of the period's coastal or "Indo-European" influenced styles.
The composition consists of a creamy off-white central field framed by a deep rust-red border with a scalloped inner edge. The interior is decorated with four large, hand-drawn floral sprays positioned in the corners, accompanied by smaller sprigs along the cardinal points. The motifs depict stylized daisies or similar sun-shaped blossoms, rendered in a monochromatic rust-red dye that matches the border. The piece is in good condition overall, though it retains one visible stain consistent with its age and history as a collected ethnographic object.