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A home to jewelers and master silver and gold artisans, Bali is a small island located in Indonesia. The jewelers of the island have become famous for their detailed and original pieces of silver jewelry.
Bali jewelers use traditional methods to produce their unique style of silverwork. The traditions have been handed down from the Southern Chinese and Southeast Asian artisans, and many of the patterns and motifs used today have similar designs. Many families in Bali can trace their silversmith and jeweler roots back to the Majapahit Empire and the invasion of the Javanese in the 16th century. In Bali, metal smiths are known as Pandai, a term that means both smith and clever. In legends in the area, the first goldsmith clans were taught their craft by the gods that were sent to earth to teach humankind civil behavior.
Most jewelry in Bali, while originally gold, is now silver. The silver market is more popular worldwide, and the booming demand for exports dictates the production. There are both Balinese and Javanese traditions seen in what is known as Bali jewelry. Balinese silversmiths tend to use small spheres of silver arranged in intricate patterns on a silver background. This technique is called granulation, and provides a sharp contract between the darker background of the natural silver and the highly polished spheres of silver. Javanese silversmiths use fine filigree work on smooth, polished silver background. Most of the Bali jewelry on the market today is a combination of these two traditions.
One of the unique aspects of Bali jewelry is the combination of silver and other metals with gemstones. This distinctive look is usually on a background of unpolished silver, and the dark contrast of the black background with the polished silver and the beautiful gemstones creates a striking effect. In addition to this traditional jewelry, woven silver or gold jewelry is also being produced which has become very popular as an exported item.
Demand
One of the characteristics of Bali jewelry is that an individual item can often be identified as coming from a certain jeweler or family just by studying the particular pattern of the granulation. This feature has made Bali jewelry very important to collectors around the world. The interplay of gems, metals and intricate patterns produces truly eye-catching items.
Not just for rings, pendants and bracelets, this process is also used to produce silver beads. These very small and ornate beads are in high demand by both home hobbyist and commercial jewelry makers alike.
With the increase in the use of the internet, the market has dramatically increased for Bali jewelry. The superb quality of the items and the high level of craftsmanship makes the many types of jewelry from Bali highly sought after items.
Cory Willins enjoys writing about and wearing unique jewelry. She writes for Jewelry and More, a comprehensive jewelry website where you can find jewlery stores resources for titanium, handmade, Celtic, body jewelry, and more as well as information on buying titanium diamond rings and more. |
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