Klungkung, Ancient Kingdoms

Handicraft Products from Klungkung

Kamasan is a village in Klungkung Regency popular with visitors because of the unique works of its painters. Located about 41 km east of Denpasar City 2.5 km to the east of Semarapura Capital City of Klungkung Regency, many of its population are also engaged the production of other sorts of attractive traditional articles such as ‘Wayang Kamasan’ puppets, highly sought after by tourists.

Because of it’s position it is not surprising that Kamasan Village plays a dominant role as one of the most important handicraft centres not only in Klungkung Regency but also as far as Ubud (Gianyar Regency), and throughout this ‘Island of the Gods.’ It is a centre for Kamasan-style classic puppet painting and all kinds of metal works made of gold, silver, copper and bronze.
Whoever goes along this village’s main street and lanes to visit to local house, will hear hard knocking sounds of hammers striking iron, announcing there are smiths busy welding metal materials such as gold and silver to produce designs top order. Kadek Sumerta (41) of Banjar Tabanan, Desa Kamasan, Klungkung Regency has been working as a smith since he was at elementary school in 1978. He belongs to a party of handicraftsmen who inherited their skills from their ancestors as youngsters.
Sumerta, being one of 40 percent of the Banjar’s population who are handicraft professionals, usually makes implements used by Hindus during prayers. The products range from dulang and bokor, holy water containers, and others. The articles are on sale in large supply in the market through shops of golden and silver wares in Semarapura City.
Sumerta, during his recent talk at his home with Bali Travel News, eagerly spoke of the production process he uses, starting with mixing silver and bronze materials in ratios of 4 by 1 up to finishing on sale in the market places of Klungkung City and Sukawati, Gianyar Regency. One dulang of 35-cm width needs one month’s work to finish to be sold for 1,5 million Rupiah in market. Some consumers come to his home bringing orders for the motif, form and size of products that they require. (Wawan)