The name of Batik Salem was not as famous as the home of batik Solo, Yogyakarta, or Pekalongan in the public ear. Batik production was still limited to the domestic industry. But who would have thought the public made batik and Bentarsari Bentar Village, Salem District, Brebes has advantages not possessed by any of batik in other areas.

How the history of batik presence in the community of Salem who was Sundanese culture ? According to the story, around 1917 an official from the Pekalongan daughter visited Salem area. In this area, the princess fall in love with a local youth. They eventually married and settled in the village of Bentar. Since then the community, especially women get to know batik which transmitted the princess.

Salem batik crafters do not equal to the crafters of Yogya, Solo, or Pekalongan. In the third area artisans make batik in industrial, while in Salem-scale production of batik is still the household. However, Salem's batik products no less than the other local production of batik handicraft exhibition area. In the Government held in Semarang, Central Java Province a few years ago, acknowledged salem's batik most original of all types of batik. Where's the salem's batik originality? Characteristic of batik craftsmen retained until the salem is now 100% homemade hand.

In other areas, this habit has long abandoned by the craftsmen, because they are less productive and efficient. There are several advantages compared with hand made batik with the stamp batik. Most of all, the work is more artistic batik hand. Value that makes the hand-made batik hunted by collectors. In addition, hand-made batik also is longer in terms of age.

There are 20 types of motifs are made salem's batik crafters. Of the 20 motifs, three of which are the best and most favored buyers. The third type of motive can not be produced in industrial, but can only be made by hand. It was only an experienced craftsman for years and have the extra precision that can do it. The third motive is the motive kopi pecah, manggar, and sawat rantai. (Suwandono-37s)