Peacock and Butterfly Pekalongan Batik with Lyonaise Silk Velvet

An exquisite display of pretty peacocks and butterflies. This cushion exhibits the artistry of Pekalongan Batik from Central Java, Indonesia, featuring authentic hand-drawn batik fabric with beloved animals and colours that reflect the area's landscape on the front. Crafted using traditional wax-resist techniques, the intricate patterns celebrate Pekalongan’s rich artisanal tradition and its centuries-old reputation for bold, expressive batik designs. The artisan devoted about 150 hours to making this batik over the course of two months. 

The back is finished with luxurious French silk velvet from Lyon, offering a sumptuous contrast of texture and sheen. This cushion is the fruit of a fusion of Indonesian craftsmanship and French elegance, perfect for adding a striking accent to any room.

Each cushion is made to order, allowing time for careful craftsmanship and attention to detail. Your beautiful piece will be ready within 15 working days from the date of order. It is an excellent present for you and your loved ones. We invite you to place your order now.

Dimensions: 45 cm x 45cm. Materials used for the front of the cushion: Hand-drawn cotton made by artisans. Materials used for the back of the cushion: French silk velvet. All of our cushions are assembled in Paris, France. Specialised dry clean only. Kindly note the insert is not included. SKU: PBPFV1

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In Pekalongan, the most famous legend is that of Dewi Lanjar, the supernatural ruler of the northern coast of the Java Sea. The story begins with a beautiful young woman named Dewi Rara Kuning, who marries early but is widowed soon after their wedding. In Javanese, lanjar refers to a young woman who is divorced or widowed without children, and the name “Dewi Lanjar” comes to mark her status as a grieving, childless widow. Alone and suffering, she retreats to the shore and undertakes intense spiritual practice

Through meditation and encounters with other spirits—including, in some versions, the great southern sea queen Nyi Roro Kidul—Rara Kuning acquires extraordinary powers and becomes the guardian of Pekalongan’s waters. She is said to dwell in an invisible palace beneath the sea off the Slamanan coast, where she controls storms, protects fishermen, and can claim those who disrespect the ocean. Local tradition holds that when a child disappears near the shore, it is Dewi Lanjar who has taken them. Her legend underlies rituals such as sedekah laut (sea alms), in which offerings are cast into the water to honour her and ensure safe voyages, turning the myth into a living part of coastal life.

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Legend of Pierre de Provence et la belle Maguelonne .

In a medieval French romance from the 15th century, Pierre, the son of the Count of Provence, hears tales of Maguelonne's extraordinary beauty, daughter of the King of Naples. Driven by curiosity and longing, he travels to Italy, enters a tournament at the Neapolitan court, and wins. His victory earns him an invitation to the palace, where he finally meets Maguelonne. The moment they see each other, they fall deeply in love. To seal their bond, Pierre gives her three golden rings, tokens of his devotion that she keeps wrapped in a small cloth at her neck.

But a life does not satisfy them. One night, they flee Naples in secret, riding together toward Provence. At dawn, exhausted, they rest in a wooded area near the sea. While Maguelonne sleeps, a bird swoops down and snatches the cloth containing the three rings, flying out over the water. Desperate not to lose the symbols of their love, Pierre jumps into a small boat to chase the bird. A sudden storm rises, capsizing the boat and sweeping him far from shore. Maguelonne wakes to find him gone; after days of waiting and searching, she wanders alone until she reaches a small, isolated islet on the Languedoc coast known as Port Sarrasin. There, in her grief, she vows to devote her life to God and to the memory of Pierre, founding a hospital and a church on the islet, which she names Saint‑Pierre in his honour.

Pierre, meanwhile, survives the storm but is captured by a Moorish ship and taken to North Africa. He distinguishes himself in battle and eventually wins his freedom, only to be abandoned by his crew on a deserted island. Fishermen later rescue him and bring him back to the coast, where he is taken to the very hospital Maguelonne founded. There, after years of separation and suffering, the two lovers finally recognize each other and are reunited. Their story becomes the legendary origin of the cathedral of Maguelonne on the southern French shore, remembered as a place where lost love, faith, and perseverance turned sorrow into a lasting sanctuary.