This pristine Javanese batik cotton sarong, originating from Java, Indonesia, circa 1900, is a rare survivor of the late 19th-century trade. Acquired between 1890 and 1910, the textile remained stored in a trunk for over a century and was never used. Measuring 44 inches by 70 inches (112 cm by 178 cm), it represents a "work in progress" of the highest order; while the intricate wax-resist dyeing is complete, the final removal of wax was never fully finished, giving the fabric a unique, fine canvas-like texture.
The composition is divided into two distinct sections characteristic of a traditional sarong: the badan (main body) and the kepala (head). The badan features a deep navy blue ground adorned with a delicate white cocohan (dotted) pattern and elegant, long-tailed peacocks standing amidst flowering shrubs. The kepala section on the right shifts to a dramatic black ground, featuring a larger, more prominent peacock beneath a fruiting tree. The entire piece is framed by an ornate floral border. Because the ends were never folded or stitched, it remains an unfinished antique document in excellent condition.