Book Description
Few detailed studies have appeared on the historical context of contemporary handicrafts in Indonesia since the publication of the standard work in five volumes by J. E. Jasper and Mas Pirngadie at the beginning of the twentieth century. One of these handicrafts is Yogya silver, a type of silverware that was developed in Yogyakarta (Yogya) and Kotagede, a small town southeast of this provincial capital. Yogya silver has been made for centuries, but thanks to the efforts of Dutch and Javanese promoters of decorative crafts, Yogya silver craft underwent a profound transformation in the early twentieth century. This catalog focuses on the styles and decoration of Yogya silver in this period and describes its history. Some of the most important works from famous collections are showcased, a list of silversmiths??? initials is included, and some of the works have been dated.Many people are familiar with this type of silver work--though they may not know it to be named Yogya Silver--because this is what many of them bring home as a souvenir from Indonesia. This recent popularity, in fact a revival, has brought Yogya silver new fame. It has become collectable and older pieces are sought after. With this renewed interest came many questions: who are the makers, is there meaning in the designs, just how old are some of the pieces? This book is the next step in an ongoing effort to answer these and many more questions surrounding Yogya silver.
