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5 Villages Bag
We are quite proud of this bag, as the journey it would take comes from 5 villages and two Islands. I found its earliest prototype in a musty antique shop where I learned it was a basket that women ...More >>>
The Villages Bag
We are quite proud of this bag, as the journey it would take comes from 5 villages and two Islands. I found its earliest prototype in a musty antique shop where I learned it was a basket that women put their cherished personal things in (including beetle nut). I learned that it originated from another island that few Balinese would go to. It struck me as a piece of art with its many textures and skill sets.
The Village Bag has a story and a journey…
Alone, I decided to travel to this island by boat and find its source. The sea was so rough everyone on board was half sick as we had to hold on for dear life. Happy to have arrived, I soon discover that my pickup person was at the wrong port… hours away to the South of the island. ( oh yes, miscommunication is easy). Monkeys and the heat of the sun was everywhere. Well, I can’t write a novel here, but I discovered this bags village of origin were carvers of a light wood they call balalu wood. The carvers are very touchy about what they will carve, as they see spirit in everything. They skillfully carve the top and bottom motif which is the myth of the enlightened sage riding to heaven on a winged horse. The bag is then taken to another village where the art of weaving rattan is combined with the carving structure. Now, we take it to the 3rd village with ever so many curious children (see attached photo) where I worked with the craftsmen who inlay the shell.
This island is known for its colorful horse and buggy transportation, so often things are carried to the dock by really eco friendly transportation. So the bags are typically taken by horse carriage to the dock to where it is then taken by Ferry to the island of Bali.
The next step is a village settled in the midst of cascading rice fields. The people there will put a natural stain and a bit of gold vanish on it. Next, Ketut, our dear product manager together with her brother take the day to truck these bags to a remote village in the East of Bali where are lined and leathered with goat skin all by hand.
If you own one of these bags, we hope you will appreciate it as a cultural treasure.
Alone, I decided to travel to this island by boat and find its source. The sea was so rough everyone on board was half sick as we had to hold on for dear life. Happy to have arrived, I soon discover that my pickup person was at the wrong port… hours away to the South of the island. ( oh yes, miscommunication is easy). Monkeys and the heat of the sun was everywhere. Well, I can’t write a novel here, but I discovered this bags village of origin were carvers of a light wood they call balalu wood. The carvers are very touchy about what they will carve, as they see spirit in everything. They skillfully carve the top and bottom motif which is the myth of the enlightened sage riding to heaven on a winged horse. The bag is then taken to another village where the art of weaving rattan is combined with the carving structure. Now, we take it to the 3rd village with ever so many curious children (see attached photo) where I worked with the craftsmen who inlay the shell.
This island is known for its colorful horse and buggy transportation, so often things are carried to the dock by really eco friendly transportation. So the bags are typically taken by horse carriage to the dock to where it is then taken by Ferry to the island of Bali.
The next step is a village settled in the midst of cascading rice fields. The people there will put a natural stain and a bit of gold vanish on it. Next, Ketut, our dear product manager together with her brother take the day to truck these bags to a remote village in the East of Bali where are lined and leathered with goat skin all by hand.
If you own one of these bags, we hope you will appreciate it as a cultural treasure.
Specifications:
This bag is made of young rattan, balalu wood and goat leather.
It is lined and has one pocket. No two are alike.
The lid can lift off and will sit on the floor, but stays attached to the purse.
Length 13 in . Width 4in Height 16.5 in, Weight 3.4 lb
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