Cataloging Workshop: The Foundation for Public Access to Museum Collections

#KoleksiKita, in collaboration with the DKI Jakarta Culture Office through Jakarta Digital Collections (JDC), organized a cataloging workshop at the Textile Museum as part of efforts to strengthen museum capacity in documenting and preserving collections.

The workshop was attended by ten participants from the Textile Museum and the Wayang Museum. During the sessions, participants learned how to fill out cataloging forms and practiced the full workflow of collection documentation, from handling objects and detailed observation to compiling provenance information.

One of the Masterpieces in the Textile Museum Collection

A total of four collection objects were used as cataloging practice, one of which was the Kain Panjang Batik Tulis Motif Sawunggaling created by Go Tik Swan (K.R.T. Hardjonagoro).

Go Tik Swan is recognized as one of the pioneers of modern Indonesian batik motifs. He was a batik master, Javanese dancer, gamelan musician, and curator, who also studied Old Javanese literature at the University of Indonesia.

In-depth archival research conducted as part of the cataloging process highlights Go Tik Swan’s significant role in the Textile Museum’s batik collection. Several batiks that became part of the museum’s early collection were his creations, while his personal collection was donated to the museum in 2002.

The batik pieces donated by K.R.T. Hardjonagoro hold high cultural significance as they represent the aesthetic intersection between Javanese court batik traditions and modern creativity born from Indonesia’s search for cultural identity after independence.

The Kain Panjang Batik Tulis Motif Sawunggaling used in the cataloging workshop originates from Surakarta. The cloth combines elements of a rooster (sawung) and a peacock (galing), depicting two figures in confrontation. The motif resembles the Phoenix in Chinese mythology, symbolizing bravery, resilience, and beauty.

Other Collections Used in Cataloging Workshop

Besides the Kain Panjang Batik Tulis Motif Sawunggaling, several other objects were used as practice materials during the cataloging sessions, including:

- Wayang Kulit Rama Wijaya (Muda)
This is a Betawi shadow puppet representing Rama, the son of King Dasarata and Queen Kausalya of Ayodya. Rama is known as a brave, wise, and skilled archer, and serves as a symbol of justice, wisdom, and loyalty due to his steadfastness in upholding dharma for truth and honor.
- Wayang Dewi Sinta
A Betawi shadow puppet representing the character Dewi Sinta, influenced by the Javanese wayang tradition brought by migrants and later assimilated with Betawi culture. Dewi Sinta is a central female character renowned for her loyalty, patience, and wisdom. She is the wife of Rama, the prince of Ayodya. The stories performed with this puppet usually derive from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, narrated in the Betawi language, often interspersed with humor and accompanied by Betawi gamelan. These puppets are typically performed at celebrations such as weddings and circumcision ceremonies.
- Batik Cloth Motif Gajah Birowo, Alas-Alasan
This long cloth features flowers and roosters (Sawunggaling) in pink and ocher tones with characteristic dotted textures. The alas-alasan motif depicts a forest scene with symbols representing strength, leadership, fertility, and regeneration. Historically, this classic motif was used by kings during important events such as grand ceremonies, wedding processions, and the Bedhaya dance.

Cataloging and Digitizing 100 Priority Collections

The Textile Museum currently holds around 1,900 collections, including batik textiles, woven fabrics, mixed textiles, and textile production tools. Meanwhile, the Wayang Museum has approximately 6,863 collections, consisting of wayang, musical instruments, puppet-making tools, dolls, masks, and paintings.

Given the large number of collections, SEAMS through #KoleksiKita, in collaboration with the museums, will select around 100 priority objects that hold the highest historical, aesthetic, or preservation significance.

Through this initiative, museum staff are expected to strengthen their capacity in cataloging and tracing the provenance of collections. The resulting data will be made publicly available via the Jakarta Digital Collections platform.

The #KoleksiKita team also applies international cataloging standards such as Getty Vocabularies (AAT, TGN, ULAN) and Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) to improve documentation quality, preservation, and collection accessibility.

This activity was made possible with the support of the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), which is committed to supporting the preservation of historic buildings, archaeological sites, cultural objects, museum collections, and traditional expressions such as languages and music in partner countries.