The Jewel of an Island
Beautiful, bountiful and boundless Bali! This incredibly gorgeous abode is known for its colourful birds, lush and verdant trees and fragrant flowers. A variety of wildlife exists on the island which has a generally hot and humid climate. The rich traditional customs and folkways of Bali’s people ensure that plenty of tourists visit this tolerant and heavenly place each year. While Indonesia is mostly Muslim, Hindus thrive in Bali where they migrated after Indonesia’s Islamic invasion. These Hindus celebrate their religious ceremonies with devotion and among the art dance and craftsmanship come out on top.
A Cult of Culture
Bali also has a mining industry, and the island is renowned for its gold and silver reserves. Most of the artisans make gold and silver jewellery from the two precious metals. Balinese jewellery is famous throughout the world for its intricate designs which are a treat for the eyes. The jewellery reflects the Spirit of the East via its mysterious mandalas and natural patterns. The jewellery comes in a large variety of choices. Some of the beautiful works of artisanship are relatively modern in their likeness while others imitate olden times.
Art & Artisanship
Most of the goldsmiths of Bali operate with a base metal that is 22 karat in its purity. This sort of gold can be bent and shaped as the artist pleases with little difficulty. The details of the gold jewellery make each artwork simply mindblowing in its beauty and aesthetic style. Three methods reign supreme in Bali jewellery. They are filigree, granulation and “jawan”. The first one consists of tiny hollow spheres and wires twisted around to make a view merely superb. One finds it incredible to even conceive of the fact that filigree is crafted manually. As for granulation, it comprises very tiny dots of metal evenly distributed all over the jewellery. The third and last craft uses small silver spots to make the word refinement take on its true meaning.
The Eyes of the Beholder
The local people of Bali adore a vast array of chromatic mediums. Yet precious stones are rarely found on the island. The jewellery thus does not sport many colours. However, the national dress and customs such as making mandalas use plenty of hues which in themselves more than make up for this lack. Among some of the jewellery to come out of Bali’s high culture may be included: earrings, flower rings, tortoise, starfish, sphere and teardrop ear pins, ear hoops and nose clips.
High Civilization
When you delve into the history of the island’s artisans and their work, you find that it extends way back into the mists of the past. The beginnings of this gold and silver work reach to the 5th century BC. “Susa” has also been a part of the early traditions. This consists of an alloy which combines gold and copper in a fixed ratio. The Majapahit Empire ruled this region in the distant past. When the agricultural conditions improved with the rice paddies flourishing, the surplus caused the culture and civilization to flower. Such was the level of economic prosperity that minor criminals were given punishment by confiscating their gold savings. The motifs on the gold and silver jewellery evolved.
A Tour of Treasure Island
As history moved forward in its arrow-like manner, people from elsewhere and their cultural ways mixed and melded on this island to create even more beautiful and graceful artistic forms. Today, Bali is known for its creativity in craft and caring of others. If one seeks peace of mind, this is the place to go to. Nobody wants to leave after sightseeing in Bali without purchasing some of the jewellery. The silver beads are especially up for grabs. Visit Bali and check out the jewellery which does full justice to one’s vanity and senses. After all, money doesn’t matter where one’s passion is concerned.