Birthday Gift Idea
Handcrafted Treasures from Bali

Stumped for birthday gift idea?

I'm thrilled to present you with some stunning handcrafted gifts from Bali & Java brought to you by Novica.com in association with National Geographic.

unique-gifts

Novica aims to create a bridge between the many talented artisans across the globe and those who value their works.

They want people to know about the artists they're buying from and to feel the connection to the product from the hands that created it.

These are extraordinary gifts that you will not only enjoy purchasing but also will be appreciated for your good taste and creative ideas. Plus by purchasing from Novica.com you get to help a struggling artist by allowing him to make a decent living and to continue practicing his incredible skills.

Discover Bali & Java

Bali and Java are Indonesian islands located in South East Asia. They are most known for their rich culture and archaic inheritance.

They have been inhabited since early prehistoric times, fossilized remains of "Homo erectus" (known as the Java Man), indicate the Indonesian archipelago was settled two million to 500,000 years ago while the modern Javanese culture dates back approximately 4500 years.

Bali is the home to the Indonesia's Hindu minority. About 93% of Bali's population adopted the Balinese Hinduism - a combination of local beliefs and Hindu influenced by Indian culture.

Java once the centre of powerful Hindu kingdoms and the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies now plays a dominant role in the economic and political life of Indonesia. The Javanese are the largest ethnic group and more than 90 percent are Muslims.

Indonesian art is famous for its many forms including painting, sculpture, woodcarving, leather, dance and music.

It is a rich culture influenced by a fascinating mixture of different ethnic groups, varied traditional cultural beliefs, Hindu and Buddhist inspiration, seasoned by Islamic symbols, European culture and Chinese mythology.

Birthday Gift Idea - Balinese Woodworking

Woodworking is the most popular Balinese art form characterized by whimsical shapes, vibrant colors and modern techniques; among you can find many brilliantly craved gifts such as traditional masks, unique statuettes, elegant walking sticks and more…

A Traditional Mask is a very unique birthday gift idea. In prehistoric times they were used for burial and later on for traditional dances enabling the performers to assume new identities of demons, animals, princes or gods. Some masks were used to communicate with ancestors, for blessing or protection from evil spirits.

Today most of the masks are shaped in the form of legendary heroes and mystical characters such as the lion, a Balinese symbol of braveness and power. A traditional mask is an exciting gift for an admirer of Balinese art and folklore.

Exceptional wood statuette is another great gift idea. For example dragon shape statuette is a fantastic birthday gift idea for a dragon admirer.

Dragon is a mysterious creature that is highly respected in Indonesia for its grace and strength, and is believed to be the guardians of the gods and protector of homes.

Here are some of the favorite Bali wood statuettes you might like

Women's Batik & Eco Friendly Accessories

Batik is one of Indonesian's most developed art forms. It become greatly developed in the 19th century and was rooted in Javanese life. Modern batik is still created by traditional techniques along with inventive patterns and contemporary design.

For a chic gift choose a handsome Women's batik robe, that features a flattering front-wrap style, wide sleeves and matching belt.

A fabulous gift idea for an environmental conscious is an attractiveAte handbag, that combines traditional and contemporary trends, made from natural fiber, and makes an aesthetic and functional addition to any wardrobe.

Here are some impressive batik gifts you might like:

To find more original gift ideas such as one of kind paintings, elephant paintings, collectable puppets, wood carved games and much much more…be sure to check out the amazing Bali art collection!

More Gift Ideas…

Novica.com offers more than 15,000 unique and hard to find items from around the globe; It's like you’re travelling to remote locations, exploring colorful markets, meeting the locals and buying unique and exotic gifts; and all that, without ever leaving home.

So why wait? Just look at Novica and decide for yourself…