Kotagede Silver City

Kereta Kencana Sultan made of Silve

The silver craft is one of the cultural heritage passed down through generations of the people who lived in the area Kotagede, Yogyakarta. Kotagede was the capital of Islamic Mataram Kingdom, it is located about 6 km southern of downtown Yogyakarta. This place is a central for preservation for the art of making Silver Handicraft. Long time ago this making of handicraft is started for fullfilling the need of jewelry for the King and the Sultan and the Royal Family. It began to developed in the reign of Senopati Panembahan, in the Islamic Mataram period around 16th CE. Development has being done from time to time, it even has been ordered by Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII who captivated by its beauty. Today the Silver artist is not only making a jewelry shape, but also different kind of shape, such as animals, house accecories, equipments, miniatur of Borobudur Temple any other beautiful things. This beauty of silver handycraft spread across the world, and it becomes comodity product. Most people in Kotagede are craftmen so this city also well known as Silver City or Kota Silver.

Woman Accecory

Many manufactures offer a good quality silver in a lot of kinds of model. Some manufacture even provide a short course of making silver for those who interested in learning how to make silver handicraft. It will be guided by the craftmen.

Some Tourist learning how to make Jewelry from Silver

There are many showroom that tourist may find in this area. One of them is in Jalan Kemasan, Kotagede. In this street there are more than 40 shops from small, medium, and large shop where they exhibit their silver collection. Tourist also may address to Kampung Basen, Purbayan district where they have many craftmen which of course offer cheaper price if purchasing directly from the maker.

Borobudur Temple model made of Silver

Many variety of silver are sold in Kotagede Region according to its silver purity level. 999, 925, 850, 835, 825, and 800. Mostly selling silver 925. Those number refers to the percentage of the silver content, which means 92.5% silver and 7.5 % copper. This is the best mixing percentage as if it is 100% silver might become to soft to shaped. The copper is used as a mixture with the silver material in order to make it stonger to proccessed into jewelry. And silver with 800 purity levels will be faster oxidized than the silver with 925 purity level. That's why rarely found silver jewelry with 800 stamp.

Woman Purse made of Silver

A silversmith in Kotagede is famous for its unique products, subtle, patient, and detail in working on their silver products, that produce high-value artwork. Kotagede silver is a precious souvenir and collectibles that can be passed between generations. If you have question regarding Visiting Kotagede, please do not hesitate to keep in touch with our administrator. We will happylly to help. Please see also our Tour Package offer.