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Art may truly be in the eye of the beholder. What several experts deem “art” leaves those less educated in art history scratching their heads. But one thing is convinced: art has become an essential part of interior decorating for the house. From throw pillows featuring unique fabrications and finely crafted baskets to hand painted silks and children’s hand-painted furniture, art in home is here to stay.

Hand painted silks are especially interesting, and can add elegance and sophistication to interiors. Silk paintings for wall displays use high quality dyes on luxurious silk that look gorgeous in frames. Hand painted silks can also be used for screens, giving an unique and highly appealing theme to a boudoir. Similarly, abstract silk scarves draped over chair backs or nightstands add a subtle beauty to a dressing zone. Decorative hand painted silk pillowcases can also give a colorful contrast to solid color bedding and walls.

Hand painted silks and dyed silks have a rich and ancient tradition. Experts speculate that silk was first developed among 5,000 and 6,000 years ago in China, and was used as an elegant fabric for garments and, eventually, as an important component of the country’s trade. Indeed, the 5,000-mile “Silk Road” connected China to Persia, India, Egypt (where mummies were sometimes wrapped in silk), and Rome.

In India, Kanchi silk was and is woven and hand-dyed, and treasured for its superior craftsmanship and vibrant colors. Silk played a necessary role in the Roman Empire, and used to clothe emperors and as diplomatic gifts.

Many people are familiar with batik, a silk painting technique that dates back more than 1,800 years. Batik is termed a “resist” method because wax is applied to the cloth to make it “resist” penetration by the dye. Often, a fabric is waxed and dyed several consecutive times in order to incorporate many colors into the cloth.

Another “resist” method utilizes “gutta,” a derivative of the Indonesian Palaquim tree that is a natural latex. Gutta is most often used with the French Serti silk painting technique. The consistency of gutta is similar to that of rubber cement, and is not as easily removed as wax or water-based gutta. when you come to Indonesia, then you will find type of top quality baju batik with inexpensive price, there and several of them are very famous in Indonesia, pakaian batik and batik murah.

Today, artists use a variety of silk dyes and paints to achieve breathtakingly beautiful contemporary art. Those that produce the most vivid colors are dyes that need steaming in order to bond with the fabric. Paints used for hand painted silk are often the consistency of watercolors, and are set by using an iron.