Response: I would like to make this forum & wood carvings

[MiSO]

And the question is: is hard stone/ marble to be found on Bali, or does it need to be shipped? If so, then it's going to be costly.

[Markit]

And the question is: is hard stone/ marble to be found on Bali, or does it need to be shipped? If so, then it's going to be costly.

The short answer is "no!" if you mean stone found in Bali.

From all my research and investigations there are only various volcanic stones on most of Indonesia - for the obvious reason that Indonesia is a volcanic chain of islands.

Marmar or marble comes from Java - there is a very pretty pink marble stone called Java Rosso and is made in small batches in home industries. Costs, depending upon size of block, between 85k and 125k IDR per Meter squared.

There are other marbles but most seem to be from Java or Sulawesi. I can recommend the Super Marmar on the Jl. Indra for marbles and Sanur has the best selection and prices for the other stones - there is a lovely one called Bali Green, it is greenish but I think the real name is something like Baligren, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Check out my photos it's all over the pool 8)

There are also some harder black anthracites but they are not particularly pretty in my opinion.

[MiSO]

Wow Mmmarkit, I am so glad you're in this building project...

[Markit]

Glad to be of help.

There are some truly beautiful stones available here but they are soft-ish an therefore not good for heavy treatment, more for decoration. Much wear can be avoided by how the stone is laid - ask your friendly neighbourhood Toukang.

[Quince]

Thanks for everyones replies...as much info on wood carvings as has been posted on stone carvings would be much appreciated! :wink:

Spicyayam- could you please change my name, Quincer just sounds silly!

MiSO- the reason I wrote "Response: I would like to make this forum..." is because it was sort of a response to another persons post that I read when I initially got on here to ask my wood carving question. The post seemed to end in an argument over exactly what this forum was for and suggested if you wanted tourist advice go to the bali tourist site- but I am not the sort of person who is interested in advice for tourists. I want to know the local/expat stuff- that's all...

[spicyayam]

Ok, your username has been changed.

[JohnnyCool]

Back to your original main question:

...the real reason I got onto this forum is because I want to know about wood carvings.

Mas, (near Ubud), is a famous village of superb wood carvers. You could do much worse than visiting a few of the galleries around there.

Of course, it's not the only place. I know of other villages that specialise in carving Garuda statues, for example. Depends upon what you're actually looking for.

I would thoroughly recommend a visit to the village of Mas, as a first port of call.

[dedoo]

Maybe late but actually the best place to locate the best of wood sculpture in Bali is to visit the Pendet Museum in Nyuh Kuning. There are regular exhibitions there of the best wood sculpture artists of Bali. This is not tourist junk as these artists have world reputations.