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Rosalia Tarigan

Rosalia Tarigan

Handcrafted sterling silver jewelry in Bali and Java

"Silver has beautiful color and is easy to clean. With silver, the designs seem to have a soul."

I was born in North Sumatra, the youngest of four sisters. When I was a girl, I liked to play doctor and I thought I wanted to be a doctor but, after high school, I changed my mind and studied engineering in West Java.

Working several years for an additive company made me realize that my passion was not really in engineering. The rich jewelry traditions of the people of Indonesia attracted my attention, and I wanted to be part of that tradition.

Around 2002, I went on a business trip to East Java. I took a day off, walked around the area and talked with the local people. I found out some silver workshops had closed down and gone out of business. The people I met told me that around, 1980, the area was famous for their silver crafts. I was starting to get excited, as I thought that I could find a talented silversmith in this area. It wasn't difficult to interact with the people and, after visiting an old workshop, I felt a good chemistry to work together with a widow whose name is Ibu Indun.

We started by to making up the old workshop, where most of the equipment is traditional and manual. I am responsible for office work, design, and marketing. Ibu Indun does the beautiful crafting, and my sister manages the workshop. There aren't a lot people in the workshop, just Ibu Indun's relatives who don't live far from her house.

I combine traditional and modern styles to make a collection that is not only beautiful to look at, but a pleasure to wear. I love to use silver in my collections, as silver has beautiful color and is easy to clean. With silver, the designs seem to have a soul.

Unfortunately, I didn't have experience selling jewelry. I started selling it door to door, and it was such a hard time that I was feeling down, not knowing what to do with the collections. But there is always a way even when we think there isn't. A friend mentioned that Indonesia's Trade Ministry offered programs to sponsor small business projects, so I went and registered our jewelry project, took the screening test, and good news came. We were sponsored to participate in national jewelry exhibition.

Now we are active in local and international exhibitions, and we also receive consignments from the capital.

Since our workshop is situated in a small city, the availability of materials is limited. We had to purchase silver, gemstones and pearls from Bali. We realized then that we needed to collaborate with silversmiths in Bali, so we send them our jewelry to set the gems and finish. Having a partner in Bali has made us stronger without having to leave our workshop in East Java.

One day I phoned my sister and I told her I was planning to sell our jewelry online, but I didn't have any idea how to do it. She researched some online websites and found a great partner that we could collaborate with. She told me, 'I found a wonderful website and I already contacted them. Let's wait for their reply.'

You replied to our email, and we were jumping up and down, laughing together. We are so happy – this is the time. It's time to show our collections to the world. Thank you!

Cause Badges

Preserving Traditions

Empowering Women

193 items by Rosalia Tarigan

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Reviews by Customers

Artist rating

Total reviews

88

Jayne

Verified Reviewer

01/01/2021

"I LOVE this!!!!"

Really, really beautiful necklace. The fish is a substantial, sculptured looking piece. I get compliments every time I wear it.

Best Uses

Feeling and looking great!!!

Purchased Item:

Balinese Goldfish, Cultured Pearl and Garnet Sterling Silver Goldfish Necklace

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Neri

Verified Reviewer

12/29/2020

"Beautiful and Regal, new favorite"

I have been looking for the special ring for some time, I finally found it. The design is beautiful, the bone engraving in the center delicate and gorgeous. I like the idea of it been made out of bone, and its symbolism. I am an avid collector of jewels especially rings, this is one of my favorite in my collection of 25+ years. Thank you so much for this piece

Purchased Item:

Intricate Majesty, Hand-Carved Floral Sterling Silver and Bone Cocktail Ring

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Sonali

Verified Reviewer

12/20/2020

"Its well made earrings."

Beautiful, lightweight Earrings for everyday wear.

Purchased Item:

Traditional Wreaths, Circular Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings Crafted in Bali

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Vickie V

Verified Reviewer

12/10/2020

"VERY Special!!"

This is phenomenal! Highest degree of artistry! I am very impressed... I had to send this back because of the size -- it is wider than I usually wear and I thought Id need a size larger -- but I actually found that my normal size will work. I plan on ordering this again in the new year. Do not hesitate to purchase this treasure -- however, consider the size carefully if you are not used to a wide band ring.

Tags By Vickie V

Stunning Ring!!

Best Uses

I would wear this daily!

Purchased Item:

Borneo Forest, Leaf Pattern Sterling Silver Cocktail Ring from Java

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Randy

Verified Reviewer

12/10/2020

"Exceptional Necklace"

This is one of my wifes favorites. She has different turtle jewelry, but this is her favorite necklace.

Purchased Item:

Turtle in the Sea, Handcrafted Blue Mabe Pearl Silver Pendant Necklace

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Sue

Verified Reviewer

12/05/2020

"Mens Java Tradition Ring"

I absolutely love this ring. It just came today and Im thrilled with it. It is unique, weighty and simply gorgeous. I will surely purchase more from this site!

Purchased Item:

Java Tradition, Unisex Sterling Silver Ring from Java

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