Gilt Silver Beads - Balinese - Gallery

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Gilt Silver Beads - Balinese

Posted by Edith D on November 30, 2017 at 6:08am

The seller said that this necklace is from Java, but it looks nothing like a Javanese necklace. I suspected that it was from Sumatra, but I also noticed similarities with some Balinese work I have seen on line. I was finally able to confirm this by comparing it to a book on Indonesian jewelry published by the Ministry of Culture. Does anyone have additional information that they can share with me?

Comments

Edith D November 30, 2017 at 6:18am

This obsession with granulation on the clasp may also be a clue....
Edith D November 30, 2017 at 6:19am
Edith D November 30, 2017 at 11:33am

So, there is very little published about Balinese jewelry that is not related to tourism brochures. Bruce Carpenter just skips anything on the island of Java or Bali. The Balinese craftsmen apparently love granulation. The granulation on this necklace is extremely finely detailed. It is combined with a repousse technique and applied filigree threads. The beads are extremely skillfully constructed. My guess is that the necklace is 30 or 40 years old, but its hard to be certain about its age.
Toya December 5, 2017 at 1:32am

These are beautiful beads! They are clearly old, but the designs do resemble new silver ones from Bali.
Edith D December 5, 2017 at 2:34am

Thanks Toya! I could not find these in any widely available books (similar work appears in a local Indonesian tourism publication I borrowed from someone). I know that the silver work in Bali was not begun until mid 20th century, and that local women do not traditionally wear silver. Before that Balinese smiths worked in gold or gilded copper. I am assuming that since these are gilded that they were used locally. I have noted some interesting similarities with the type of granulation work used by gold smiths in southern India, so I am guessing that this is because of an historic trade/religious connection. Do you know anything else about them???
Nadia Marie Jamil February 15, 2019 at 1:02pm

Are these not maghrebi agrab al fadda beads? You might be looking in the wrong place
Cordelia Donohoe March 17, 2019 at 6:18pm

These are definitely not Agrab al Fadda beads. They are lovely tho. Im posting a photo of aggrab al Faddas