19.
Letter from the Sultan of Palembang, 1823
This beautiful letter from Sultan Husain Diyauddin to Governor-General
van der Capellen mainly concerns diplomatic exchanges between the
court of Palembang and the Dutch in Batavia. A close examination of the
letter reveals something of the work methods of the illuminator. The
regularity of the scattered gold leaves and circles implies that they were
stencilled or stamped, but the exquisite gold foliate meander pattern
framing the text block would have been painted freehand with powdered
gold solution, probably guided by a pencilled design, its edges finally
defined with black ink. The seal was imprinted only after the illumination
was completed, and has landed slightly askew of the blank space carefully
left for it.
Letter from Susuhunan Ratu Husain Diyauddin of Palembang to Baron.van
der Capellen,
2
Syakban 1238 (14 April 1823). Malay in Jawi script; ink and
gold on Dutch paper, 'D & C Blauw'; lamp-black seal; 54 x 43 cm. From B.
Jolly & Sons, 1905.RV (1977:1 18).
Cambridge University Library, Or.64o
19.
Surat Sultan Palembang, 1823
Sebagian besar isi surat emas dari Sultan Husain Diyauddin kepada
Gubernur Jenderal van der Capellen ini berkisar tentang penuk
.
aran duta
antara kesultanan Palembang dan pusat kekuasaan Belanda di Batavia.
Dari surat ini, banyak yang dapat kita pelajari tentang cara kerja juru
sungging. Motif daun dan lingkaran yang semua sama itu mungkin
distensil atau dicap, tetapi motif
awan larat
yang melingkari teks jelas
disungging dengan Langan, barangkali di atas pola yang dilukis dengan
pencil. Kemudian dedaunan digaris dengan tints hitam. Cap baru ditempel
setelah surat disungging, dan tempelannya terletak agak diluar batas
kertas yang disediakan.
50