Daluang Manuscripts from Cirebon, Indonesia: History, Manufacture and Deterioration Phenomena

Abstract

Abstract Daluang or dluwang is an Indonesian traditional ‘near paper’ that is made of Saeh, a type of mulberry plant. Daluang or dluwang were used as a writing material in Java during the Islamic era. Cirebon, West Java Province, Indonesia, is one of daluang manuscript collection sources in Indonesia. The manuscripts belong to the local society and the royal family. The objective of this research is to provide a brief history of daluang production and use and to identify deterioration phenomena of daluang manuscripts which belong to the Cirebon society. The data was collected by literature study, interviews and a survey examining daluang manuscripts. The findings from this study are an important documentation of the present condition of daluang manuscripts in Cirebon. Furthermore, this paper offers guidance for a condition survey of daluang manuscript collections and identifies weaknesses in the current practice of preservation, offering suggestions for optimized storage conditions.