Indonesia's jewelry and the secrets of wax on fabrics

Jewelry is the dazzling highlight of any Indonesian bazaar. Avid travelers even believe that Indonesian wares (especially those made on the island of Bali) are much prettier, like jewelry creations made of natural stones or even coral! What are the characteristics of Indonesian jewelry, and why is there so much talk of... wax?

Balinese silver and wooden souvenirs

Silver made on the Indonesian island of Bali is as beautiful as in any other place around the globe. Balinese jewelry is made by local, experienced goldsmiths - who have been in the business for generations. Consider the town of Celuk, where the community has even been dominated by traditional goldsmiths. In popular shopping malls and stalls frequented by tourists from all over the world (such as Kuta and Ubud), jewelry from Celuk is sold "in bunches."

In addition to silver, the Balinese like to create jewelry from wood - most often sono wood. Thanks to living close to nature, artisans make amazing ornaments, which are eagerly bought by travelers visiting Indonesia. Designs applied to jewelry also land on wood carvings or... wooden masks. Balinese people value handicraft and art, translating it with extreme care into ornaments in the form of earrings, bracelets or necklaces. Residents of the island of Bali are proponents of rather original shapes of jewelry - that's why each set is... different. It is worth mentioning at this point that there are really few places left in the world where handmade earrings or bracelets have survived into the 21st century. However, such a place is certainly the Indonesian island of Bali - here in the production of jewelry to this day work even ... several thousand artisans!

Rangda and Barong - the eternal battle of deities

One of the most typical and popular Balinese designs applied to pendants, for example, is the image of the queen of demons, Rangda. She is the ruler of the dark forces in Bali, according to traditional Balinese mythology. Rangda is said to lead an army of evil witches against the leader of the forces of good, namely Barong - he, in turn, is depicted on the jewelry as a half lion. The battle between Barong and Rangda is depicted, among other things, in the Barong dance - a tradition meant to show the eternal struggle between good and evil, i.e. between the vengeful Rangda and the good-natured Barong.

What distinguishes the ornaments associated with the deities? Certainly incredible precision, intricate designs, filigree and often... tiny silver balls. They are arranged in rather fanciful trails and fill the surface of pendants with images of Rangda and Barong.

A few words about wax work with fabrics

Indonesian jewelry perfectly complements the clothing characteristic of the local people. One of the oldest techniques for dyeing Indonesian "fatales" here is batik. It involves applying wax to the material and then bathing it in dye - only the parts that have not been covered with wax are then dyed. In Indonesia there are a number of waxing techniques, such as tulis, which in Polish means "to write". This method is based on writing, but... with wax. It is applied with a special tool, canting. Precise and unique patterns on clothing can be obtained by just such an unusual method! A method of coloring, which is slightly less labor-intensive, on the other hand, is cap - better known as stamping. The method involves transferring the design to the fabric, of course, with the help of a stamp - but it must be previously soaked in hot wax.

It is worth mentioning that these techniques of "wax" work with fabrics have been recognized as... cultural heritage! That's why in 2009 they were included in UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Just imagine how splendidly Balinese jewelry composes with clothes so precisely brushed with wax. A perfect combination for people who like to stand out in style, right?