Indonesian Yogya Djokja Bread Basket with Human and Anima Figures, 1890s

Indonesian Yogya, Djokja Bread Basket with human and animal figures, Ca 1890 An Indonesian, Bali, low silver content (800/1000) large bread basket. A large bread basket with each at the longest sides a Peacock and middle at the sides a Kalahead (a mask of a monster lion) (Bali) between flowers and human and animal figures in 4 scalloped panels. 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 or inside 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, marks or initials on this basket The measurement is 9,5 cm high, 29,5 cm wide and the depth is 20 cm. The weight is 592 grams.