Where to buy Balinese carvings, and how do you spot good work?
In Bali, carving is first of all a religious art: it decorates the doors, walls and altars of temples, guards entrances with statues and dresses the masks of dance. It is even said that the Balinese once saw wood carving as a gift from the gods. The souvenir trade came later.
Wood means Mas (and, quieter, Kemenuh), just south of Ubud. You will see:
- Workshops of carving families, open to the street, with showrooms where you can see pieces at every stage.
- Masks for topeng (masked theatre), statues, decorative panels and furniture.
- Local woods: panggal buaya (“crocodile wood”) for statues, hibiscus wood, sandalwood, and other woods imported from elsewhere in Indonesia.
Stone means Batubulan, on the road from Denpasar to Ubud. Carvers work paras, a dark volcanic stone that is soft and easy to cut, in open-air workshops by the roadside. You will see guardian demons, Buddhas, elephants, dolphins and decorations for temples, villas and hotels. A curious detail: this stone weathers quickly and gets covered in moss after just a few wet seasons, which gives the statues their ancient look.
How to spot good work:
- Examine the piece from every angle: the details should be precise and the work careful.
- Ask what wood it is: hardwoods last longer.
- Look at the patina and finish: a good indicator of quality.
Verdict: prices sometimes look high, but the work is slow, and bargaining is still expected. For anything big, ask about shipping before you buy.
Tip: visit a workshop first without buying anything: watching a carver at work is the best way to understand the price.
Prices checked in October 2026; confirm before you go.