Sovereign Art

A favorite piece in my personal collection- this bangle is from East Timor, Indonesia. Timor has had a tumultuous and violent history as multiple countries fought for colonial rule, and Timor fought for independence over the past century. Pieces from Timor seem to carry this dark, thick and mysterious energy. It is made from Dutch silver coins, which were melted down when their monetary value became obsolete. The resourceful timorese turned the scrap metal into something of value. It's chunky & crudely made by the granulization technique on a large scale. It's full of porosity & dirty solder seams. Yet it feels substancial, friendly with not a single rough or sharp edge, and carries the spirit of an enduring people. Simple, ancient, timeless.