Silver ring made in a silver course at Studio 76 in Kota Gede, Java, Indonesia — *One of the silver rings that I made at Studio 76*

Summer 2023 I travelled through Java, Indonesia. I stayed a few days in Yogyakarta, one of the oldest cities in Indonesia. Yogyakarta offers many must-see attractions inside and outside the city such as Taman Sari, Jalan Malioboro, Kota Gede, Prambanan, Borobudur or Merapi Volcano.

I love bringing back home souvenirs from my travels and I love crafting. In Yogyakarta I found two amazing spots where I could learn local crafts and bring back souvenirs that I created with my hands. One of them is Batik Seno Jogja, where I created my own batik and Silverstudio 76, where I designed and crafted my own silver jewelry.

Silversmithing in Kota Gede at Studio 76

The garden of Studio 76, silver smithing silver workshop silver class Java Kotagede Yogakarta Java Indonesia — *Studio 76 is located in a beautiful green garden.*

Kota Gede is a suburb of Yogyakarta and well known for its silver crafts. There are several workshops where visitors can stop by and watch silversmiths at work and see the remarkable way, they can transform a piece of silver into a beautiful work of art. At Studio 76 you can design and create your own silver jewelry under the patient guidance of local silversmith Agus.

Studio 76 is located in one of the many small allies in Kota Gede. Entering through a gate, visitors are welcomed in a beautiful garden. Agus offers two courses: The short course has a duration of one to two hours and participants do all the processes, from designing through to forging, carving, soldering, polishing etc. Agus will only demonstrate and help to improve your items, but you will do 90% of the work. I took the full day silversmithing class, which lasts from 10 am to 3 pm, lunch included. He took me to a local restaurant on the back of his scooter.

I brought some sketches that I did the night before in my hotel room at The Alana. I wanted to make a ring. Agus went with me through my designs and helped me pick those that were realistic to make in one day. He guided me through all the different steps that had to be taken to get to the silver ring that I wanted to create. He showed me and explained what I had to do. He only gave me occasionally a helping hand. Because I already had some experience in silversmithing from another course I took in Bali, I was rather quick, and I had the time to make a second ring out of a piece that broke when bending the silver wires into a ring.

silver smithing workshop silver class Kotagede Yogyakarta Java Indonesia — *Work in progress: My ring in the making.*

There were other tourists making bracelets, rings, earrings and pendants. At the end of the day, we admired each other’s creations in Agus’ beautiful garden after polishing them. Now I have a wonderful souvenir of Kota Gede that I made myself and that I can wear!