Indonesian Yogya Basket, Ca 1900

An Indonesian, Bali, low silver content (800/1000) large basket. A large basket with scalloped edges. The top edge is openwork with floral motif. Each side in the middle a Kalakop (a mask of a monster lion) (Bali) between lotus flowers and floral decor. In the inside on the bottom a Wajang figure. The silver from the former Dutch colony, East Indies, present-day Indonesia, is called Djokja. Traveling salesmen and repatriates brought many silver objects with them to the Netherlands. The largest and most beautiful production is from the period 1880 to 1930.

Djokja silver is recognizable by the motifs used, such as the lotus figure, animal figures and geometric figures are also known. As a technique, Indonesian silver is considered important, something that the Europeans in Indonesia were very fond of. In addition, the silversmiths used an old regional technique: embossing; this is hammering out the silver from the outside

The use of silver in Djokja silver is often difficult to determine. In Indonesia, the amount of copper in the alloy and the associated hallmarks were not taken very seriously. In some cases there is only a number indicating the alloy, sometimes together with a maker’s mark. There is no number or initials on this basket

The measurement is 6 cm high, 32.8 cm wide and the depth is 22 cm. The weight is 438 grams.