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Metal Craft

Although with a very few exceptions no traces of ancient smelters have ever been found in Indonesia, it seems safe to say that the art of forging bronze objects was brought to these islands by the early migrants from the Asian mainland.

Aside from that particular fact, however, the art of metal processing has long been known in many parts of Indonesia. Indonesian smiths have produced strong, durable and beautiful objects such as krisses and other traditional weapons from certain alloys, long before the study of metallurgy was brought here by the European. Similarly, metal Jewelry was produced by traditional Indonesian craftsmen long before the arrival of the Europeans.

It maybe considered ironic that with the introduction of moderns metal technology, many of the ancient skills, have been as good as lost, and the newly acquired modern ones are being applied almost exclusive to the production of agricultural tools, utensils and machinery.