subtle decor

Created by Gunadi in Java, these centerpiece bowls showcase Javanese batik art. A large, medium, and small bowl are carved from wadang wood. Flowers and cherry motifs are applied using the batik method, where a wax resist is painted onto each bowl before it is treated with colorful dyes.

Recalling the elegance of the ancient Majapahit kingdom in eastern Java, Balinese artisan Sarwaedi creates this elegant lidded box. The decorative box is hand-carved from mahogany with a floral relief and painted in rich colors with gilded accents. The word cupu means "small box" in the Indonesian language.

A shorebird with black and white feathers as well as a long beak, the black-necked stilt is a common sight along American coastlines. Balinese artisan Nengah Sudarsana creates this decorative accent, carved from albesia wood into the species's likeness and given a hand-painted finish in black and white. This accent is displayed atop an iron rod and a whitewashed base of suar wood.

Guarding precious treasures, a lithe gecko is hand-carved of Balinese suar wood atop this decorative box. Created by local artisans, the box features a finish that displays the wood's gorgeous natural grain. The top lid lifts open to a single-compartment interior for storing small items. Eka presents the box.

Diligently carved by hand in an oval of suar wood, a beautiful tree fans its curling branches on the lid of this puzzle box from Bali. Sarwaedi creates this puzzle box, which opens with three separate pieces to reveal an interior for storing small items and keepsakes.

Accented by hand carved hibiscus leaves, Eka's artfully designed mask brings the beauty of nature into your home decor. Balinese artisans use local hibiscus wood with a gorgeous natural grain to carve the mask, gently polishing the wood for a subtle luster.

Inspired by the beauty of wildlife, Bali's Nyoman Sudiana deigns a charming bird statuette with rich details. The artisan hand carves the baby dove sculpture from suar wood in a stylized manner before polishing the surface for a subtle luster.

Designed by Made Mulyani, this relief panel is inspired by the beauty of fall evenings. The Balinese artisan crafts the panels from local suar wood, hand carving a crescent moon motif alongside an openwork tree. Finally, a polished finish gives the moon and his leafy companion a subtle glow.

Made Tresna's intriguing mask depicts the abstracted face of a beautiful woman. The Balinese artisan skillfully crafts the mask from hibiscus wood with a lovely natural grain, hand carving exquisite details around the woman's face. A polished finish give the mask's natural wood a subtle luster.

Glowing black eyes bring life to this sculpture of a watchful black cat. Nengah Sudarsana of Bali carves the kitty by hand from suar wood, capturing every detail right down to the subtle whiskers.

Please note: The sculpture is intended to be placed on the edge of a shelf or table so that it hangs over the side.

Made Wirata's semi-abstract statuette pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts before rising again. Using local suar wood, artisans in Bali hand carve the statuette with stylized curves before polishing its features for a subtle luster.

This masterfully carved decorative vase from Sarwaedi of Bali was inspired by the Javanese legend of Naga Baru Klinting. The subtle application of paint and gilded accents give the vase the appearance of a treasured antique.

According to the legend, Baru Klinting was a dragon who promised a sage that he could circle the whole Merapi Volcano in Central Java to prove that he was the sage's son, but failed to do so. The dragon used his tongue instead, which enraged the sage, and the sage swung a sword to cut his tongue. The dragon fell to the earth. Then people living near the volcano cut up the dragon's body and took it home to make a feast. Suddenly, a midget appeared and put a stick in the earth, and said that he would take all of the dragon's meat if no one was capable of removing the stick. People tried because they didn't want to lose their chance for a feast, but none were able to do it. The midget then removed the stick from the ground, and suddenly in that spot water started to flood the whole village, turning the village into a spring that is present to this day. Later on, another sage revealed that the midget was the soul of the dragon, enraged with the people that tried to eat his body.