Klungkung, Ancient Kingdoms

Bullet Cases from Kamasan

If you go around Kamasan Village of Klungkung Sub-District, you will hear a clinking sound coming out of the inhabitants’ houses proclaiming that they are forging all kinds of handicrafts made of silver and brass, including bullet cases. Kamasan is also famous because of its specific painting known as ‘Kamasan-style Painting’, much marketed in Ubud (Gianyar Regency) since a long time ago.

Almost 80 percent of the inhabitants of Kamasan, located 2.5 km to the south of the regency capital of Semarapura and 40 km to the east of Denpasar, produce objects made of silver and brass, Kamasan-style puppets and well-decorated and designed cloth painted with specific yellowish designs.
I Made Sumerta (55) is one of the silver and brass handicraftsmen of Kamasan frequently participating Bali’s Annual Festival. The village has been famous since the former Dutch colonial period - even, it is said, from the Majapahit Kingdom Era. ‘My parents told me that Belega Village, being the centre of silver and brass craft, has its origin in East Java’s Majapahit Era’, he said.
Sumerta has been a craftsman in Banjar Sangging, Kamasan, since 1960, inheriting the skill from his elders. His products consist of bullet cases, flower vases, wall ornaments and religious implements of rituals in Bali. The latter implements include brass bowls for keeping holy water, implements for carrying sesaji to the temple and canting, brass receptacles to take out holy water.
The carvings on the outside of the objects depict the story of the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics. Probably, there would be a carving themed according to consumers’ wishes such as a company logo or governmental office and private company symbols. Raw materials originate from Surabaya (East Java) and are on retail sale in Semarapura’s shops.
It takes a work force about two weeks to produce a bullet case with a market sale price of Rp 500,000, while that of the smaller size of about 30 cm is Rp 200,000. Sumerta can produce three brass bowls daily with a sale price of Rp 50,000 per piece. In making a bullet case, firstly the heated raw material is melted then carved according to the consumers’ order. The final stages are brushing of the bullet case, and then a last 3-5 minute drying under sunlight.
Sumerta has marketed his products made by two permanent work forces and four households, not only in Bali, but also in Jakarta, Bandung (West Java), Malang and Surabaya (East Java). The progressive development of Desa Kamasan has invited capital aid by BUMN state-own enterprise and the Government of Klungkung, while proposing assistance of development by means of courses and outdoor practices in Semarang (Central Java). (BTN/033)