Silver is a beautiful and precious element, symbolic of purity and the moon. In Bali, communities of silversmiths have been producing ritual objects and jewelry for centuries. During the ‘age of kings’ (which lasted into the twentieth century), silversmiths worked largely under the patronage of the royal courts. The art of silver-working has been passed down through generations from father to son and remains lively today, in part because of the tourism market but also because of collaboration with foreign designers and exporters.

Traditional silver ritual objects that are still much in demand in Bali are offering bowls, trays for prayer flowers, and vessels for holy water. The silversmith begins by hammering the metal to make it flat and supple, and then hammers it into the desired shape. As he works, the metal is repeatedly heated over a low fire. Often it is the silversmith’s wife who tends the fire and works the bellows.

Crafts in Bali still tend to be centered in villages of specialists. Among the best known villages of silversmiths are Celuk and Kamasan, both in the regency of Gianyar.

In the boutique shops at Komaneka resorts, you can find a range of silver jewelry and much else besides, including fine textiles, clothing, natural toiletries, and a wide assortment of local crafts.