Extending #KoleksiKita to the Betawi Museum

Museum Betawi was the next stop for the #KoleksiKita cataloging workshop held by SEAMS.

This activity was conducted alongside a wrap-up meeting presenting the results of the Museum Betawi collection cataloguing process carried out by the SEAMS cataloguing team over the course of one month. A total of 77 collection objects have been successfully catalogued, after which the digitization team will proceed with photographic documentation to further strengthen the museum’s collection data.

Held in the meeting room of Rumah Makan Betawi at Museum Betawi, the workshop was attended by ten participants from the museum. The session began with an introduction to Koleksi Kita and an overview of the workshop’s objectives, followed by discussions on object materials and hands-on cataloguing practice conducted in small groups.

Betawi Museum houses approximately 520 diverse collection objects, including household items, textiles, accessories, weapons, furniture, technology, photographs, paintings, and other artworks such as musical instruments and crafts.

During the workshop session, participants also learned the complete workflow of collection documentation, from object handling and detailed visual and material observation to compiling the provenance or history of each object.

The cataloguing practice session used three selected objects, Tudung Cetok, Gasing, and Kembang Topeng, as case studies. Through these objects, participants were trained to complete key elements in the cataloguing form, including object photographs, identification numbers, ownership, object type, physical description, production methods, materials, condition, and supporting documentation.

Cataloguing Practice on Three Selected Objects from the Betawi Museum

The session featured three collection objects as case studies: Tudung Cetok, Gasing, and Kembang Topeng. These objects provided participants with hands-on experience in completing essential cataloguing components.

Tudung Cetok is a traditional head covering used by Betawi farmers. Agricultural activities were commonly carried out in the outskirts of Jakarta, such as Jagakarsa, Cilangkap, and Ciracas, with main commodities including rice, vegetables, and fruits.

Its conical shape allows rainwater to flow downward while protecting the farmer from sunlight. This object was donated by Mr. Buchori, a cultural practitioner and former Betawi Museum staff member, in 2020.

Gasing, also known as pangga, is one of the oldest traditional games in Indonesia, predating the colonial period. It is generally made of wood, although some are also produced using plastic or other materials.

Despite its simplicity, playing gasing requires specific skills, from winding the string to throwing it in a way that allows it to spin steadily, sometimes for up to a minute. This object was also donated by Mr. Buchori in the same year.

Meanwhile, Kembang Topeng is a head accessory used in Betawi Topeng dance performances. It is worn with a hair bun (konde) and made from metal wire wrapped in fabric, decorated with colorful wool threads and beads on both sides.

Betawi Topeng dance is often performed at important events such as weddings and inaugurations, and serves as a medium for conveying stories and traditional cultural values.

This Kembang Topeng collection was donated by Mpok Manih, a Betawi cultural figure and founder of the Mak Manih H. Nirin Betawi Studio Foundation, established in 1989.

SEAMS cataloguing team also conducted a consultation session on the Kembang Topeng collection with Mpok Linda Nirin on March 3, 2026. During this session, discussions explored the context of Betawi Topeng dance, the stories behind its costumes, and the history of the Mak Manih dance studio.

In addition to Mpok Manih and Mr. Buchori, the Betawi Museum’s collection also includes contributions from other donors such as Ms. Ema Agus Bisri, Mpok Engkar Karmila Sari (Mpok Nori), and Mr. Udin.

At the end of the workshop, participants presented the results of their cataloguing practice in groups based on assigned objects. Each group shared their findings, followed by discussions with SEAMS team to ensure the accuracy and credibility of collection data.

In the future, the audiences will be able to explore more stories about the Betawi Museum’s collection through the Jakarta Digital Collections (Koleksi Jakarta) portal, which is scheduled to launch in mid-2026.

This activity is supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), which is committed to safeguarding historic buildings, archaelogical sites, cultural objects, museum collections, and traditional cultural expressions such as language and music in partner countries worldwide.