Saraswati Carving

Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of art, learning, and wisdom, is portrayed playing a musical instrument, and is surrounded by other symbols of her diverse powers. The amount of detailing in such a relatively small piece is striking, and even the curve of the back of the piece reflects the natural shape of the cow bone media: a strong reflection of the natural and the transcendent. Expertly hand carved from cow bone in the village of Tampaksiring, Bali.

All of our bone products are carved from cow bone, or in Bali known as water buffalo. In Indonesia, as in other tropical lands, the water buffalo is critical to farmers: it provides milk, it is a "living tractor” that plows rice paddies, and is prized by families. When a water buffalo dies, no part of it is wasted: in addition to providing beef to the family, the bones are cured and then carved by talented craft artists. The delicacy of this work reflects difficult hand skills that are passed from generation to generation. 

Approximately 2.75" L x 1.5 W