Of Interest

Sayan
The name of the collection was inspired by the artistic energy and natural beauty of the area that serves as our base in Bali – the village of Sayan.

Bali is one of the smallest of the 13,000 islands of Indonesia, about the size of the US state of Delaware. The village of Sayan is in the middle of the island, just a few miles west of the cultural center of Ubud. Ubud is a major tourist area with a full range of hotels, private villas and restaurants as well as hundreds of art galleries and shops. The area surrounding Ubud is home to many Balinese and expatriate artists, designers and artisans.

Sayan itself is an area of lush forests, deep river gorges, and ancient Balinese Hindu temples with views of the volcanic mountains. Steeply terraced rice fields cover the hillsides and follow the twists and turns of the fast-flowing Ayung River. Two famous hotels, the Amandari and the Four Seasons Sayan, overlook this river.

Teak Root
Our unique teak products are crafted from the roots of plantation grown teak trees. Teak trees grow rapidly and may reach up to 150 feet tall. The teak roots are salvaged from trees that were cut many years ago. Each teak root product is unique. Its characteristics are defined by the shape, grain, and coloration of the root as well as the artistry of the carver. The finished pieces are highly polished and have no wax or chemical finish. Each piece is oiled with a food safe mineral oil prior to shipment. Since tropical wood products can dry out and crack in non-tropical climates, the wood should be oiled monthly.

Offering Baskets
Throughout Bali beautiful bamboo Offering Baskets are used to carry elaborate offerings to the temple to honor the gods. The sides of the basket are woven to slope in so that a lid can be put tightly over the basket. The hardest and best part of the bamboo plant is used to make the basket strong. The baskets are decorated in various ways with colorful motifs painted or sometimes burned into the finished basket.Processions of beautifully dressed Balinese women can often be seen walking along village paths and roads, balancing Offering Baskets on their heads. Those who choose to ride to the temple on the back of a motor bike, hold the baskets tightly on their laps as the motor bike navigates the windy roads of Bali.

Ata
Ata vines grow on tall trees in the humid forests of Bali. Expert basket weavers from the isolated Balinese village of Tenganan use them to create exceptionally strong, baskets, table mats and assorted woven products. A small to medium size basket can take two weeks to make, a exceptionally large one as much as four months. The natural black markings of the root of the ata vine is used to create the patterns, lines, and arrows on the baskets and mats. Once complete the finished ata products are smoked over a honey and coconut fire to give them a rich warm color.

Beaded Wedding Baskets
Our exquisite collection of uniquely beautiful wedding baskets comes from the island of Sumatra. Each was hand-crafted using traditional techniques and materials by master artisans combining traditional and contemporary motifs. Each basket is hand-woven of bamboo, covered with pieces of old batik cloth, and elaborately and laboriously hand-beaded and accented with nassa shells to create these one-of-a-kind collector’s treasures. Each basket is remarkable in its bold combination of beads: intricate designs dense with color, creating abstract and representative forms that fill all available surfaces.

Traditionally, colorful beads were believed to have magical properties; for example, the hard surface of the beads can deflect spiritual harm. In most of Indonesia, beading is done by women. The rows and combinations of beads suggest groups of children or rows of rice plants in the fields and are thus associated with fertility and femininity.

Loro Blonyo - "The Inseperable Couple"
Loro Blonyo carved figures, the “Inseparable Couple”, represent Dewi Sri, the Hindu rice goddess, and her consort Sadono. An important accessory in many Javanese homes, the presence of the figures brings the blessings of prosperity, happy marriage and fertility. They are traditionally placed by the bed. They are carved and painted and sometimes ornamented with metal, jewelry or stones. The dress varies and is based on many variations of wedding costumes. The dress and jewelry can indicate the importance or status of the couple.

Contact us at:
customerservice@SayanCollection.com