A canting consists of a copper reservoir attached to a bamboo pen, which holds the wax.
This tool is used to produce a form of batik known as “tulis” (“writing”). The batik patterns are indeed drawn on the fabric with wax, freehand, using the canting. The wax, heated to 90°C or 100°C, is a mixture of beeswax, paraffin and various resins. This operation is carried out exclusively by women.
Once the wax has dried, the fabric is dipped in dye, allowed to dry, and then re-dipped in a hot bath to melt the wax. Once the wax is removed, the pattern appears white on a colored background.
The fabric shown here is cotton dyed with indigo using this process.