Kotagede
silver handicraft is a business run from generation to generation. Its silver
products have eminent characteristic of being unique, smooth, and neat. It is
not superfluous that this handicraft center always becomes a favorite place to
go.kotagede silver craftsmen divides silver products into four types, filigree
with holed texture, engraving with its bulging surface, casting shape which is
produced with molding technique, and handmade which uses hand skill to make
finger ring and necklace.
Generally,
silver handicraft of kotagede is divided into four kinds,jewelry such as
necklace,bracelet, ring, ear ring, and miniature items like ship and temple,
wall decoration and other kinds of ornament. Kotagede silver handicraft is set
at various prices starting from forty thousand for brooch, one hundred thousand
for jewelry like finger ring, and up to thirty million rupiah for miniature
handicraft. Even, the price could be more expensive,depending on difficulties
in the making process and also material type.
Meanwhile
the material is categorized into two types, silver piece which so-called
gilapan, and silver threads that is familiarly known as filigran. In each
silver handicraft making process, craftsmen do not use pure silver, but it is
combined with copper because pure silver is too flabby to be shaped into
handicraft. Copper is good element to harden handicraft form.
Kotagede
silver handicraft has good reputation in the eye of international world,
foreign travelers have great passion in purchasing silver handicraft. On the
contrary, local residents are more interested in wearing gold, since it is
considered as classy jewelry.since long time ago, the domestic market is
limited in bali and jakarta, which means local market only covers twenty percent
of the selling point, and the rest is made by foreign travelers.
The
currently unstable silver production has influenced silver handicraft price in
kotagede. Furthermore, the increased price of silver has pushed silver
craftsmen to raise the price.
Kotagede
is not the only silver handicraft center in the world,as the city has serious
competitors in thailand, vietnam, and india. Reflecting from the current
situation, it is poor that silver handicraft which is claimed as the world’s
heritage has declined. For that reason, the government is urged to support the
development of kotagede silver handicraft.
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