Strengthening Museum Collection Data through a Cataloging Workshop Museum Sejarah Jakarta & Museum Seni Rupa & Keramik

#KoleksiKita, in collaboration with the Jakarta Provincial Department of Culture through the Jakarta Digital Collections (JDC) program, organized a collection cataloging workshop at Museum Sejarah Jakarta and Museum Seni Rupa & Keramik on January 23, 2026, and February 13, 2026.

As part of efforts to strengthen institutional capacity in documentation and collection preservation, the workshop serves as a foundation for museums to systematically and accurately input their data into the Jakarta Digital Collections (JDC) platform.

The workshop was attended by ten participants from each museum, with sessions scheduled separately to accommodate the specific characteristics and types of collections held by each institution.

Museum Sejarah Jakarta (MSJ) preserves collections related to the history of Jakarta, while Museum Seni Rupa & Keramik (MSRK) houses fine art and ceramic collections.

During the workshop, participants learned how to complete cataloging forms and practiced the full documentation workflow, from object handling and detailed visual and material observation to compiling collection history (provenance).

Selected Workshop Objects – Museum Sejarah Jakarta (MSJ)

Siangko (a Betawi bridal crown), a Miniature Oplet, and an Imari Ware plate were selected as representative objects for cataloging practice during the workshop at Museum Sejarah Jakarta.

The Siangko is a crown worn by Betawi brides, reflecting cultural acculturation among Chinese, Arab, and Malay communities that coexisted in Jakarta. The crown traditionally signified the bride’s social status, often associated with middle- to upper-class families.

The Miniature Oplet represents a popular land transportation mode in Jakarta during the 1960s–1970s. Oplet vehicles became widely used at a time when bus-based public transportation was still limited in the city.

The Imari Ware plate is a Japanese ceramic produced in Arita (Hizen Province, Kyushu) in the 19th century. The term “Imari” refers to the port of Imari, from which these ceramics were exported. Imari ceramics became an important trade commodity during the VOC period and serve as evidence of commercial dynamics and competition between the Dutch East India Company and China in Batavia.

Henk Ngantung Sketches at Museum Seni Rupa & Keramik

Two sketches by Henk Ngantung, PM Sjahrir & Michael Wright and The Signing Sketch were used as case studies for cataloging practice during the workshop at Museum Seni Rupa & Keramik (MSRK), Jakarta.

Henk Ngantung (Hendrik Hermanus Joel Ngantung) was a painter who began his artistic career after moving from Tomohon to Bandung. In 1937, he studied painting under Austrian artists Prof. Rudolf Wenghart and Prof. Wolff Schoemaker for approximately four years (1937–1941). He was a member of the Lima Pelukis Bandung (Five Bandung Painters) group before moving to Jakarta (Batavia) in 1940.

Ngantung’s works are known for depicting key events of Indonesia’s struggle for independence, including his 1946 sketch of the Linggadjati negotiations. He was also actively involved in the development of public art during the 1950s–1960s.

One of the sketches in the MSRK collection depicts a press conference in a realistic style, featuring Prime Minister Sjahrir and Michael Wright. The other sketch portrays the signing of the Linggadjati Agreement, which took place at Paleis Rijswijk, Jakarta.

Ngantung’s artistic legacy reflects his engagement with Indonesia’s independence movement as well as his contribution to public art development in the post-independence era.

Collection Cataloging and Digitization Priorities

Museum Sejarah Jakarta currently manages 6,382 objects, including furniture, weapons, ceramics, archaeological collections, ethnographic objects, and paintings, all in varying conditions. Meanwhile, Museum Seni Rupa & Keramik holds approximately 400 paintings and more than 10,000 ceramic objects.

Through #KoleksiKita, SEAMS collaborated with both museums to select priority objects based on their historical, aesthetic, and preservation significance. At MSJ, 243 objects were selected, including Betawi bridal jewelry, traditional cake molds, and Batavia-era paintings. At MSRK, 96 objects were prioritized, consisting of 49 paintings and 47 sketches.

Through this initiative, the museums are expected to strengthen their cataloging practices and provenance research. The resulting data will be made publicly accessible through the Jakarta Digital Collections platform.

The #KoleksiKita team also applies international cataloging standards, including Getty Vocabularies (AAT, TGN, ULAN) and the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), to enhance documentation quality, preservation standards, and public accessibility.

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