Balinese Art & Craft

Bali Wood Carving

Balinese wood-carving is renowned because a natural local aptitude has allowed itself to be influenced by sophisticated Western style, and the resulting hybrid artifact consequently differs from anything found anywhere else. The main place to see wood-carving in Bali is the village of Mas, south of Ubud. The craftsmen of earlier time were occupied with carving figures of god and heroes for the adornment of the palaces of the local rajahs. The depiction of animals and trees, as well as non traditional fantasy figures, came with the arrival of Western artist. A particular style involving smooth surfaces and elongated human bodies has become common, and is often looked on as quintessentially Balinese, but actually is only something involved in the thirties in imitation of the European Art Nouveau style.

As with all art object, the only advice that can be given is to buy only what you yourself consider being of high quality. Despite the endless duplication, there are some wonderful craftsmen at work. Fashioning the wood with delicate steel tool and a lightweight hammer and working with extraordinary speed, they have gained the reputation of being of the finest wood-carvers anywhere in the world. Painted carvings, made from local soft wood, are cheap and produced in huge numbers. Imitation fruit - bananas in particular - are almost all produced in the village of Pujung. Hardwood carving are generally produced using imported wood as Bali's climate does not give rise to classic equatorial rain forest. Ebony, for instance, is imported from Kalimantan ands Sulawesi in eastern Indonesia.

Bali Stone carving

Carved stone is everywhere in Bali and there are not only in tenples but few public buildings or private houses. stone carving is unlike stone-carving in that Western stylistic influence has been minimal, though figure from nature, as opposed to mythology, have long ben incorporated into the design. Stone-carving also differ from wood-carving, in that the ordinary Balinese can afford to buy them. the only problem for visitor is weight - even so, little items a few centimeters high are on sale, and of just about any animal, bird, mythological or fanciful character you could wish for. For some people, though, the temptation to have a mock-Balinese shrine in their garden will be understandably irresistible. Almost all Balinese stone-carving goes on at Batubulan village, home of the tourist version of the barong dance. Shops and workshops are one and the same, all prices are negotiable.

Indonesian Government does not allow the export of stone carving over fifty years old. However, most antiques you may find probably be younger than fifty years old, no matter how "aged" they may look. Antique and wood products may crack when being exported to drier climates. Ceramic are fired at low temperatures and may therefore be fragile.

Bali Jewelery

Jewelry, mostly silver and gold was traditionally practiced by a clan of specialist craftsmen. The center of jewelry in Bali's well-known village of Celuk, just past Batubulan coming out from Denpasar on the way to Gianyar or Ubud. Intricately worked items - anything from ring to tableware - are specialty , the smaller pieces virtually solid silver, the larger ones silver-plated. You can watch the silversmith at work, and prices are very reasonable.