Strings of shells were therefore used in trade, but in addition they were in their entirety deemed to be charged with magic of considerable effect. This accounts for the particular value attached to these strings of beads in the Ratak districts, for instance where they are reserved exclusively for persons of princely rank, and otherwise are only worn. by the masked bearers who play a special role in the funeral rites of a deceased prince.

The art of pottery has not flourished to any great extent in Indonesia. Although clay of high quality is available, the art of firing objects was not properly understood, and consequently the art of glazing could also not really develop.

They resorted either to pouring sea-water on to the objects to prevent them from becoming too porous, and a deposit of salt crystals then formed in the material during firing, or else the pottery was sprinkled with pulverized resin, which then melted.

It was not regarded as particularly necessary to manufacture ceramics, as vessels could be made more simply in a different, way, e.g. from bamboo, coconut-shells, etc. Moreover, pottery, and even porcelain, were imported by Chinese merchants in great quantities at a very early date, in any case after the eighth century A.D. 285

Please access this web site for more Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and all Indonesia Hotels bali-lombok-yogyakarta-jakarta-hotels.com - and Indonesian Holidays Information, hotels and travel reservation indonesia-hotels-travel-holidays.com