Indonesia is an exotic and mysterious country, famous for its crafts since ancient times. Metal products, artistic batik painting, and stone carvings created by skilled Indonesian craftsmen are valued all over the world. But also in this country, wood carving is extremely developed - one of the most widespread and ancient forms of handicraft art in Indonesia. Carved figurines of animals, people and mythical characters serve not just as home decoration, but also always carry a positive semantic charge.
Carvings by Indonesian masters are rightfully considered works of art. The openwork carving is of extraordinary beauty and fascinates and delights. Craftsmen carve small figurines and group sculptures, wall panels and masks, figures of people and animals. For their work, Indonesians use valuable tree species: suar wood, albesia, teak, mahogany - mangrove, coconut. The wood of these trees is different high density and a variety of color palettes of red, yellow, brown and black. The cost of products of this level can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars per copy, depending on the complexity of the work.
But no less often they use balsa wood, a strong and very light dried base, as well as the popular tropical acacia - albizia, which is usually called simply alabesia. The lightness of the material itself and its processing make figurines carved from it relatively inexpensive and accessible to lovers of wooden souvenirs, among which the most popular are images of various animals and birds, ritual masks, and musical instruments.
Of course, one of the most popular wooden souvenirs are cat figurines. A traditional Indonesian cat figurine is a carved wooden figurine of an animal that sits peacefully on hind legs, looking straight ahead. Masters often paint figurines, giving them a “living” quality. appearance and national color.
In Indonesian folklore, the cat symbolizes qualities such as:
- love, loyalty and devotion;
- cozy home environment;
- order and financial prosperity in the house;
- mutual respect and a favorable atmosphere in the family.
And the best symbolic gift for newlyweds, for example, according to Indonesian beliefs, is a cat figurine. There may be not one figurine, but several, different sizes, which symbolizes family members: the large figurine is the main one, symbolizing the head of the family, the smaller figurine is the wife of the head of the family, the smallest figurine is the child. There is still a sign that a cat with its tail raised represents optimism and prosperity, several figures of cats symbolize love, devotion, friendship, fidelity, and a cat and little kitty- a symbol of maternal happiness.
Such wooden figurines of cats or any other animals will certainly decorate any interior. Single and group figurines, different in size, shape, color, style of execution, will bring joy, warmth, comfort, a family atmosphere of peace and well-being to your home.
There probably isn't a person who doesn't like receiving gifts. A feeling of joy and trembling excitement appears every time the gift wrapping is unwrapped and the gift is removed. Just like receiving, almost everyone loves to give gifts. Sometimes it's even more pleasant than receiving them. Observing sincere emotions of delight from the gift, the giver himself is no less happy.
To give a gift or present, you don’t have to wait a whole year for your birthday. You can give souvenirs and unusual trinkets to friends and family not only on birthdays and New Year, and bring it from other cities and countries while on vacation or a business trip. Each new territory visited is rich in its history, traditions, cultural values, and there is always the opportunity to bring back a souvenir.
Today, to give a souvenir from Indonesia, China or India, it is not at all necessary to go there. An exotic gift can be purchased in your native country; fortunately, on the Internet you can choose a souvenir to suit every taste.
Souvenirs from Indonesia are the best in the world
Indonesia's crafts go back thousands of years, one of the most widespread that has survived to this day is wood carving. The popular Indonesian resort - the island of Bali is famous not only clear waters ocean and excellent services for tourists, it is home to the world's best wood carvers. From generation to generation, the islanders pass on the secrets of an ancient craft that dates back far into the past.
Today, the carvings of Bali masters are considered the pinnacle of perfection that a person can create with his own hands. The openwork carvings are of extraordinary beauty and make you look at the works of folk craftsmen with bated breath. Craftsmen carve small figurines and group sculptures, wall panels and masks, figures of people and animals. A large number of souvenirs are made on religious and mythological themes, which with their elegance have gained great popularity among tourists.
For their work, Indonesians use valuable tree species: suar wood, albesia, teak, mahogany - mangrove, coconut. The wood of these trees is distinguished by its high density and varied color palette of red, yellow, brown and black.
Wooden cats from Indonesia.
Indonesia ranks second among countries in the Asian region in terms of the number of cats, after Australia. More than 30 million animals live on its territory. Moreover, what’s interesting is that cats are practically not kept in an apartment or house; they are independent, independent creatures who live where they want. Modern Indonesians have moved away from the cult veneration of the animal that came from ancient times, but they also do not offend cats, considering them a bad omen. The main habitat of cats in Indonesia is the area near temples and altars located on the street, in places where tourists gather, where there are always people ready to feed and caress the animals.
One of the most popular souvenirs in Indonesia are cat figurines carved from wood. Traditional Indonesian cat figurine- a carved wooden figurine of an animal that sits peacefully on its hind legs. Masters paint cat figurines, giving them a “living” appearance and national flavor.
For the islanders, the cat symbolizes
. Love, loyalty and devotion
. Cozy home environment
. Order and financial wealth in the house
. Mutual respect and a favorable atmosphere in the family
The best gift According to Indonesian beliefs, newlyweds are treated to a figurine of a cat. There can be not one figurine, but several, of different sizes, which symbolizes family members: the large figurine is the main one, symbolizing the head of the family, the smaller figurine is the wife of the head of the family, the smallest figurine is the child.
What do wooden cats symbolize?
If you delve a little into history, it will be interesting to know that in Ancient Egypt the cat was considered a sacred animal, which the Egyptians called mau; the goddess Bast was the mother and protector of all divine creatures. The identification of the Egyptian Bast with the ancient Greek goddess Artemis, the patroness of animals, gave rise to talk about the “witchcraft” abilities of the cat.
The ancient Romans identified the cat with the goddess of the Moon, Diana, the patroness of wise healers and fortune-tellers. It was believed that a cat figurine brings family well-being to the house and protects it from evil spirits and troubles.
Ancient Muslim manuscripts testify to a heroic cat who saved the life of the Prophet Mohammed from snake bite, killing her. Scandinavian legends attribute the cat's ability to successful conception child and his safe birth, care for the health of the mother and newborn baby.
A cat animal is characterized by the following qualities:
. Devotion
. Mind
. Insight
which make her a favorite pet. She is credited with supernatural powers and well-developed intuition.
Modern wooden cats - an interior attribute or a symbol?
Wooden cat figurines today will decorate any interior: mysterious and graceful, single and group figurines, different in size, shape, color, style of execution, will bring joy, warmth, comfort, a family atmosphere of peace and well-being to the house. A figurine of a wooden cat from Indonesia will become not just a decoration in the interior, but a family “deity” carrying symbolism.
There is still a belief that a cat with its tail raised represents optimism and prosperity, several cat figures symbolize love, devotion, friendship, fidelity, and a cat and a small kitten are a symbol of maternal happiness.
According to ancient beliefs wooden cat from indonesia will
. Scare away evil “forces” that carry negative energy
. Protect your home and family members from troubles
. Serve as a talisman for the well-being of your family
. Protect your money and increase financial condition
. Attract good luck not only in the family, but also in work
. Powerful positive energy will help improve the home atmosphere and overcome life conflicts
Our store offers a large selection of wooden cats from Indonesia. We guarantee fast delivery of orders to any region of Russia and CIS countries.
Any domestic cat Regardless of her age and breed, she needs a separate living space where she can feel protected and calm.
When thinking about how to make a cat house with your own hands, you should start with planning and drawings.
When building such a house with your own hands, it is necessary to take into account some features and nuances.
Dimensions and shapes of the home
The variety of cat house designs is amazing. However, the most optimal designs are in the form of beds and houses equipped with a scratching post. It's better if everything is connected together.
The size of a cat’s future apartments is influenced by two factors:
- animal size,
- free area for installation of the structure.
If there are several furry ones in the family, then the play complex is simply necessary. Photos of a cat house show that the variety of modern finishing materials allows you to create designs that can harmoniously fit into interior compositions of any style.
Construction materials
The following materials are most often used to build a cat’s home:
- for the manufacture of the frame, chipboard, MDF and plywood sheets, boards made of natural wood are suitable;
- it is possible to sew a soft house for your beloved cat in the form of a comfortable bed from fabric and foam filling;
- simply create cat houses from ordinary boxes;
- To decorate a scratching post for a furry one, you should stock up on jute or sisal rope. Just do not need to secure them with staples or nails, since the animal can damage its limbs;
- PVC pipes or metal and wood products are suitable for the base of the scratching post;
- synthetic winterizer and foam pieces are chosen as filler for pillows and mattresses;
- the interior is decorated with fur, plush or fleece;
- to cover the external facade, the material is selected based on the animal’s habit of tearing its claws: carpet would be a good option;
- adhesive compositions for work should be purchased without acrid smell, which can scare away the cat.
Installation of cat housing
The main condition when placing cat apartments is the stability of the structure.
The level of installation is also important, because cats like to watch what is happening from above. Therefore, the optimal height for the house will be 1-1.2 meters from the ceiling.
But the beds and platforms should be distributed on different levels designs.
Preparing to build a house
Before starting construction, you should acquire the following materials:
- Fiberboard board 40 by 120 cm (base) and 44 by 55 cm (walls), chipboard 44 by 60 cm (roof);
- Seven slats (spacers) about 40 cm long, 3 by 4 cross-section;
- PVC pipe with a diameter of 11 cm and a length of 60 cm and a jute rope (scratching post) and a board 40 by 20 cm (inclined scratching post);
- Fibreboard and chipboard with foam rubber 44 by 30 cm (bed);
- Upholstery fabric fabric.
Design process
The instructions on how to make a cat house with your own hands are quite simple.
First of all, rectangular parts are cut out from chipboard and chipboard panels according to size. Circles with a diameter of 27 cm are drawn on two parts.
The rear wall plane remains blank, and several holes are marked on the front: one with a diameter of 22 cm is the entrance, and several small ones in the form of windows. Next, holes are cut out using a jigsaw or drill according to the indicated marks.
After this, the two resulting elements are combined in order to mark the places where the vertical slats will be installed. It's better to take 7 pieces. The marks will be end-to-end drilled holes on both walls.
The slats for the cat's home must be pre-processed: planed, leveled and sanded. The front and the same rear elements of the house are connected with slats using self-tapping screws.
Note!
On a chipboard base in the place where the house will be attached, foam rubber should be placed and a circle should be drawn where the scratching post will be installed. The entire surface of the base is covered with decorative material, which is convenient to attach to a stapler.
Roof of the house
For this top part pasted over, and the slats, which are located in the lower part inside the structure, are closed. Afterwards, the finished house is attached to the base, selecting the screws of the required size.
To ensure that the pipe placed inside is stable, it is fixed on both sides wooden blocks. They are attached with screws or glue.
To arrange the bed, semicircular parts are cut out of chipboard and strung onto a pipe. Once the location for the scratching post has been determined in a vertical position, the pipe can be connected to the base of the house.
At the end of construction, a string with a favorite cat toy is attached under the bed.
Note!
The bed itself is covered with foam elements and the selected fabric. The pipe is wrapped with jute or sisal rope, which is attached with glue.
The edges of the cat scratching post are upholstered with fabric, and it is better to wrap the middle with rope. Next, the board is attached at the top to the frame of the house, and at the bottom to the base of the building.
Cat play area
At the beginning of construction, a box of suitable dimensions is made. The entrance to the interior can have any shape and form. The assembled box is attached to the base of the complex. The pipes are attached to the house using angles and screws.
The next level of the gaming complex is represented by a couch. To make it interesting for the animal to move around its home, you can install a ladder on the side or inside the building, securing it with corners.
The upper level is designed in the form of a gable roof installed on 4 pipes.
Note!
After collecting the entire complex, you can begin decorating.
All pipes should be wrapped with suitable ropes; beds and other floors can be covered with carpet sheets. All cuts and walls of openings must be covered with furniture slats to ensure safe movement for the animal inside the complex.
DIY photo of a cat house
IN CATS OF THE WORLD. Indonesian brothers
I decided to start a series about cats that live in other parts of our planet. I hope you are interested in learning about them too...
I'll start with my brothers living in Indonesia. My friends helped me in preparing the material: an employee of our Museum, Anya Chugunova, who was in Indonesia last year (the photos are hers) and a very respected felinologist - Olga Sergeevna Mironova (Kotofey Club).
So, let's go to another hemisphere...
Indonesian cats
=^.^=
Indonesia is considered the country of cats. According to rough estimates, about 30 million mustachioed animals live here! This is a legitimate second place after Australia and an undisputed leader in the entire Asian region.
A special feature of Indonesian street cats is their short tail. More often than not, it is not a pompom, like a bobtail, but a straight one.
In photographs of cats with tails not only of different lengths, but also the rest of the tail is wrapped in a variety of ways. Short tails are often found in cats in coastal areas and on islands. These are the cats of Frigate Island, which swim and dive beautifully, like the cats of Japan, the Kuril Islands, and the coast of Lake Ladoga and Onega. Such tails arise due to the appearance of a wedge-shaped deformation of the caudal vertebrae, which become shortened and irregular in shape, causing the direction of the entire caudal peduncle to change. Such deformation may be isolated. 
Then the tail simply changes direction somewhat, or may be multiple and accompanied by a natural shortening of the length of the tail. 
The descendants of such cats, having fairly harmoniously formed bobs - the remains of a tail - became the ancestors of regional bobtail breeds. Jakarta cats are very close in type to Japanese bobtails, only they have not been ennobled by centuries-old selection and are native street cats, from which, if desired, you can create your own areal breeds of domestic cats, if enthusiasts appear among local cat lovers. The climate is favorable for breeding short-haired cats, since caring for long-haired cats may not be affordable for local residents.
It’s not customary to treat cats on ceremony in Indonesia, but they won’t offend them either - this Bad sign. Based on observations and inquiries from the local population during the trip, it turned out that cats are not often kept at home.
Even at the bird market (and here this is not a figurative expression, but a direct one - the market sells mainly beloved pets - birds), you will hardly see cats. In other matters, as well as 
dogs too. Songbirds are the undisputed leaders!
Cats in Indonesia mostly live on their own and search for food on their own. Sometimes they eat directly from the offerings that locals leave in temples and near street altars. Of course, cats have long chosen places where you can find kind-hearted tourists. Here they will feed you, pet you and arrange a photo session.
Not surprisingly, the most popular 
souvenirs depict cats. Locals try to capture cats in all sorts of shapes and colors. The most traditional Indonesian souvenir is the painted wooden carvings of cats sitting peacefully on their hind legs. This souvenir means order and comfort in the house, as well as well-being and mutual understanding between all family members. In Indonesia, the cat is also a symbol of love. Ceramic figurines in the shape of cats are traditionally given as wedding gifts to newlyweds.
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